THE END OF THE EMPIRE I: POLITICS AND IDEOLOGY AT THE EAST FRANKISH COURT
Simon MacLean
The problems facing Charles the Fat as he approached crisis of his reign were not, it would seem, purely structural. ‘supervisory’ nature Carolingian government meant that was indeed possible for one man to rule enormous tracts territory by forming alliances with influential regional aristocrats. One could not govern indefinitely, however. In order understand causes deposition emperor and disintegration empire we must reconstruct chain events which led up Arnulf's coup November 887. These interacted aspects general political backdrop have been describing bring about final imperial rule. As so often in early medieval politics, succession crucial issue. fuse lit late 884 death Carloman II, left whole alone without immediate prospect a son succeed him. From this point on, Regino pointed out, moved bewildering speed surprising outcome: ‘It matter worthy note, varying evaluation outcomes human affairs astonishing.’
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