LUDOVICO III, king of Provence, ROMAN EMPEROR. - B. in 882, d. 5 July 928. He belonged to the Carolingian family, being the son of Ermengarda, daughter of the emperor Ludovico II and wife of Bosone, count of Vienna, who in 879 was made king of Provence. Upon Bosone’s death (887), Provence was occupied by Carlo il Grosso, while Ermengarda fled to Burgundy with her son L.
In 889 L. was recognized as king in Provence. When Berengario I was defeated by the Hungarians in 899, some Italian magnates invited L., and at Pavia on 12 Oct. 900 recognized him as king; in 901 he was crowned emperor in Rome by Benedetto IV. During his return journey he was threatened by Berengario I, who had rebuilt his forces, and undertook to leave Italy and never return. In fact, he reappeared there in 905 and, having gathered his supporters, succeeded in occupying Pavia and Verona, where, however, he was captured by Berengario, who set him free after having had him blinded (21 July 905). L. returned to Provence, where he continued to reign until his death (5 July 928).