Louis the Pious

Reign: 814 – 840
Life: 778–840

During his reign in Aquitaine, Louis was charged with the defence of the empire's southwestern frontier. He conquered Barcelona from the Emirate of Córdoba in 801 and asserted Frankish authority over Pamplona and the Basques south of the Pyrenees in 812. In the 830s his empire was torn by civil war between his sons that was only exacerbated by Louis's attempts to include his son Charles by his second wife in the succession plans. Though his reign ended on a high note, with order largely restored to his empire, it was followed by three years of civil war.

During Louis the Pious' reign, Emperor Wenzong of Tang ruled China, Pope Gregory IV ruled Papacy, and Theophilos ruled Rome.

Want to learn more? Further reading

The Cambridge Illustrated History of France by Colin Jones

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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