Charles III le Simple

King of West Francia · 898-923 · born on 17 September 879, died on 7 October 929

Posthumous son of Louis the Stammerer, Charles the Simple, still a child, was set aside from the throne in 888 in favour of Odo. He only became king in 898, on the latter’s death. Nicknamed “the Simple”, he sought to restore royal authority in a kingdom torn apart by the Norse raids.

In 911, by the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, he ceded the lower valley of the Seine, soon to be called Normandy, to Rollo and the Northmen: in exchange, the Viking leader was baptized. This choice durably founded the duchy of Normandy.

Accused of weakness by the great men, notably by Robert, who had himself elected king in 922, Charles was defeated and captured in 923, after the death of Robert I at Soissons. He died in 929, after about six years of captivity. His line nonetheless continued through his son Louis IV of Outremer.

In the tree of power

Further reading