Middle Franks: Map & History
Lotharingia was a historical region and an early medieval polity that existed during the late Carolingian and early Ottonian era, from the middle of the 9th to the middle of the 10th century.
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
Lotharingia was a historical region and an early medieval polity that existed during the late Carolingian and early Ottonian era, from the middle of the 9th to the middle of the 10th century. It was established in 855 by the Treaty of Prüm as a distinct kingdom within the Carolingian Empire, but abolished already in 869–870 when it was divided by the Treaty of Meerssen. It was territorially reunited in 880 by the Treaty of Ribemont, and reestablished as a kingdom from 895 to 900. Since 903 it was organized as a duchy, which existed up to 959 or 965, when it was divided into two distinct duchies: Upper Lotharingia, and Lower Lotharingia. Before the final division, the region comprised present-day Lorraine (France), Luxembourg, parts of Switzerland, parts of modern Germany west of the Rhine, most of Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Modern Countries Once Part of Middle Franks
At its mapped extent, Middle Franks covered territory in 8 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Luxembourg850–899 CE · nearly all
- San Marino850–859 CE · nearly all
- Netherlands850–899 CE · most
- Belgium850–899 CE · most
- Italy850–859 CE · a large part
- Switzerland850–859 CE · a large part
- France850–899 CE · a small part
- Germany850–899 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Middle Franks's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Middle Franks: Key Facts
| Capital | Aachen |
|---|---|
| Official language | Old Frisian |
| Founded | 855 CE |
| Dissolved | 959 CE |
Facts from Wikidata Q6673921 (CC0).
Middle Franks Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 384,683 km² in 854 CE.
Middle Franks: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Middle Franks exist?
Middle Franks is dated to 850 CE – 899 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Middle Franks?
The capital of Middle Franks was Aachen.
How large was Middle Franks at its peak?
At its peak in 854 AD Middle Franks covered about 384,683 km².
Other Sovereign Realms
Early Middle Ages • Capital: Constantinople
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Early Middle Ages • Capital: Chang'an
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Bianjing