Charles III, Emperor, King of Germany, called the Fat

CHARLES III, Emperor, King of Germany, called the Fat. - Third son of Louis the German, b. in 830. As prince, he contested Lotharingia with Charles the Bald (872), and on the death of Emperor Louis II he tried in vain to occupy Italy (875). The following year, on his father's death, he became king of Germany. After lengthy entreaties from Pope John VIII, who saw in him the restorer of peace in the peninsula, prey to grave disorders, he descended into Italy in 880, where he was recognized as king, and the following year, on his second descent, was proclaimed emperor. On the death of his brother Louis of Saxony he inherited his possessions, which he increased in 885 through his succession to the kingdom of France, thus gathering into his hands almost all the possessions of his great-great-grandfather Charlemagne, whose mind and energy, however, he did not possess. He fought feebly against the Normans, who grew ever bolder, especially on the Scheldt: but, weak and irresolute, at the placitum of Tribur he was deposed and his nephew Arnulf was recognized in his place. On 13 Jan. 888 he died at Neidingen, on the Danube, and with him the last of the Carolingian emperors was extinguished.

Alberto Ghinato