Louis the Child

Early Life:

Louis the Child was born in September or October 893 in Altötting, Duchy of Bavaria, to king Arnulf of Carinthia and his wife, Ota.

He had at least two brothers: his elder, illegitimate brother Zwentibold, who ruled Lotharingia, and another brother named Ratold, who briefly ruled the Kingdom of Italy.

East Francia:

Louis was crowned in Forchheim on 4 February 900 at the age of six and reigned until his death aged 17 or 18.

Due to his young age and weak personal constitution, the reins of government were entirely in the hands of others - the nobles and bishops.

The most influential of Louis's councillors were Hatto I and Solomon III (bishop of Constance).

Lotharingia:

Louis succeeded his elder illegitimate half-brother Zwentibold in Lotharingia after 900 and maintained a separate chancery for both regions.

He appointed an East Frankish duke Gebhard to rule Lotharingia, alienating the Lotharingian nobility.

The Lotharingian nobility did not participate in East Frankish assemblies.

Magyar Invasions:

During his reign, the country was ravaged by Magyar raids. The Magyar army devastated Bavaria, the Duchy of Carinthia, and twice ravaged the Duchy of Saxony.

In 904, Louis invited Kurszán, the kende of the Magyars, to negotiations, but killed him and his delegation.

In 907, the Magyars inflicted a heavy defeat on the Bavarians in the Battle of Pressburg, killing the Margrave Luitpold and many high nobles.

Death and Succession:

Louis the Child died at Frankfurt am Main on 20 or 24 September 911, aged seventeen or eighteen.

His death brought an end to the eastern branch of the Carolingian dynasty.

The dukes of East Francia elected Conrad of Franconia, son of Gebhard, as the king, while the nobles of Lotharingia elected the Carolingian Charles the Simple as their king.

Legacy:

Louis the Child was the last East Frankish ruler of the Carolingian dynasty.

He was buried in the monastery of Saint Emmeram's in Regensburg, where his father Arnulf also lay.