Charlemagne’s Enigmatic Successor: Louis the Pious

Empires: A History of Mankind’s Imperial Past


This episode focuses on Louis the Pious, Charlemagne’s deeply misunderstood son and heir.


This is the fifth episode in a series covering the Holy Roman Empire.


Sources & further reading: – Heart of Europe: A History of the Holy Roman Empire (Peter H. Wilson) – The Carolingian World (Marios Costambeys, Matthew Innes, Simon MacLean) – The Demanding Drama of Louis the Pious (Courtney M. Booker) – Past Convictions: The Penance of Louis the Pious and the Decline of the Carolingians – The Frankish Kingdoms Under the Carolingians 751-987 (Rosamond McKitterick) – Carolingian Chronicles: Royal Frankish Annals and Nithard’s Histories (Bernhard Scholz & Barbara Rogers-Gardner)


Intro/Outro:

Succession HBO