West Franks: Map & History
In medieval historiography, West Francia or the Kingdom of the West Franks constitutes the initial stage of the Kingdom of France and extends from the Treaty of Verdun in 843 to 987, the beginning of the Capetian dynasty.
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In medieval historiography, West Francia or the Kingdom of the West Franks constitutes the initial stage of the Kingdom of France and extends from the Treaty of Verdun in 843 to 987, the beginning of the Capetian dynasty. It was created from the division of the Carolingian Empire following the death of Louis the Pious, with its neighbor East Francia eventually evolving into the Kingdom of Germany.
Modern Countries Once Part of West Franks
At its mapped extent, West Franks covered territory in 14 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Switzerland876–886 CE · nearly all
- Netherlands870–925 CE · nearly all
- Belgium850–989 CE · nearly all
- Austria882–886 CE · nearly all
- Luxembourg870–925 CE · nearly all
- Slovenia882–886 CE · nearly all
- Andorra850–869 CE · nearly all
- Liechtenstein876–886 CE · nearly all
- San Marino860–886 CE · nearly all
- France850–989 CE · most
- Germany876–925 CE · most
- Hungary882–886 CE · a large part
- Croatia882–886 CE · a large part
- Italy860–886 CE · a large part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside West 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.
West Franks: Key Facts
| Capital | Paris |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Old French, Breton |
| Form of government | hereditary monarchy |
| Currency | triens |
| Founded | 843 CE |
| Dissolved | 987 CE |
Succeeded by
- Kingdom of France
Facts from Wikidata Q46370 (CC0).
West Franks Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which West Franks appears, with the other states of the time.
West Franks Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 1,187,838 km² in 886 CE.
West Franks: Frequently Asked Questions
When did West Franks exist?
West Franks is dated to 850 CE – 989 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of West Franks?
The capital of West Franks was Laon.
How large was West Franks at its peak?
At its peak in 886 AD West Franks covered about 1,187,838 km².
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