Rulers of Provence - Carolingian Kings

Carolingian Kings

After the division of the Carolingian Empire by the Treaty of Verdun (843), the first of the fraternal rulers of the three kingdoms to die was Lothair I, who divided his middle kingdom in accordance with the custom of the Franks between his three sons. Out of this division came the Kingdom of Provence, given to Lothair's youngest son, Charles. A heritage of royal rule was thus inaugurated in Provence that, though it was often subsumed into one of its larger neighbouring kingdoms, it was just as often proclaiming its own sovereigns.

The kingdom of Provence was also known as Lower Burgundy (or Cisjurane Burgundy). Its capital was first Vienne then Arles and it is therefore sometimes known as Arelate.

• Charles (855–863)

Provence divided between surviving brothers, Lothair II and the Emperor Louis II. The bulk goes to Louis.

• Louis II (863–875), also Holy Roman Emperor from 855

As with his Kingdom of Italy, Louis's Provence goes to his uncle on his death.

• Charles the Bald (875–877), also Holy Roman Emperor from 875
• Louis the Stammerer (877–879)

With the death of Louis, Charles' successor, Provence refused to elect his two sons and instead elected one of their own as king. Boso married Ermengard, daughter of Louis II, to strengthen his and his son's claim.

• Boso (879–887)
• Louis the Blind (887–928), also Holy Roman Emperor from 901 to 905

Louis's kingdom did not pass to his heirs, but instead to his brother-in-law, the husband of his sister, Hugh, who had acted as his regent since 905. Hugh never used the royal title in Provence.

• Hugh (911–933)

In 933, Provence ceases to be a separate kingdom as Hugh exchanged it with Rudolph II of Upper Burgundy for the Iron Crown of Lombardy, that is, rule of Italy.