Louis III of Provence, Louis the Blind, Emperor of the West, King of Provence, King of Arles, King of Burgundy, Berengar of Friuli, Hugh of Arles, Boson of Provence, Ermengarde, Charles III the Fat, Arnulf of Germany
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Discover the life and reign of Louis III of Provence, also known as Louis the Blind, Emperor of the West from 901 to 905 and King of Provence, Arles, and Burgundy.
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[...] INTRODUCTION Louis III called 'The Blind' or Louis III of Provence was an Emperor of the West from 901 to 905. He was also King of Arles, King of Provence, King of Burgundy from 890 to 928, and King of Italy from 900 to 902. His father was Boson of Provence and his mother was Ermengarde, the daughter of Louis II called the Younger, a deceased Emperor of the West. He was born around 882 and died on 5 June 928 in Arles. [...]
[...] Louis will have to return to his kingdom, that of Provence. 4. LAST YEARS Except in Provence, Louis III cannot satisfy the great vassals of the kingdom, and leaves in 911 the reins of power to Hugh of Arles, his cousin, because his blindness no longer allows him to rule effectively. Hugh, Count of Vienne and Arles, will settle in Arles and marry the half-sister of Louis, Willa of Provence. He will be regent, and marquis of Provence. He will become king of Italy in his turn in 926. [...]
[...] On October Louis III of Provence is crowned king of Italy, in the Basilica of San Michele Maggiore. On February 15 or 22 of the same month, in 901, he will be crowned Emperor of the West by Pope Benedict IV. But, the reign of Louis III in Italy will be of short duration, because Berengar of Friuli, who is also a grandson of another Emperor of the West, Louis the Pious, decides to take back his Italian crown. He mounts an army, this time, much more powerful, to crush the troops of Louis of Provence. [...]
[...] In 890, Louis was elected by the prelates and great vassals king of Provence, king of Arles and king of Burgundy, in Valence. It was therefore for thirty-eight years of reign. In 894, Louis will submit to Arnulf of Germany, as his mother would have done. In 896, the Saracens will make life difficult for the king of Provence, pillaging lands of his kingdom. Louis III will intervene without having any other choice than to arrest them. 3. NEW CROWNS Berengar of Friuli, then king of Italy, is in difficulty in northern Italy, the Hungarians sowing chaos. [...]
