Charles II, Emperor, called The Bald

CARLO II, IMPERATORE, detto il CALVO. - Figlio di Ludovico il Pio e della sua seconda moglie Giuditta, n. nell'823 a Francoforte sul M. Nell'829, all'assemblea di Worms, gli fu decretata come retaggio l'Alemagna, suscitando forti animosità tra gli altri figli di Ludovico il Pio i quali, mossa guerra al padre,

in 833 they managed to make C. prisoner, though he was soon released. At the assembly of Aachen (836) a very large kingdom was formed for him, and effectively entrusted to his administration, comprising Austrasia and Neustria, which he later sought to expand toward Provence, Aquitaine, and Burgundy, also annexing, upon the death of Lothair II, part of Lotharingia. His reign was troubled by Norman incursions (853 ff.) and by the invasions of his brother Louis the German. Upon the death of Emperor Louis II in 875, Pope John VIII invited him to Italy and crowned him emperor in Rome. In 877 he returned to Italy to the Pope's aid against the Saracens, but did not find the Frankish lords favorable. And while preparing to recross the Alps, he died on Aug. 6 of that year at Avrieux, near Modane.