Lothair I

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Lothair I (795–855) Frankish Emperor (840–55). Eldest son of Louis I, he was co-emperor with his father from 817. On Louis's death (840), war broke out between Lothair and his two brothers. Lothair was defeated at Fontenoy (841), and the Treaty of Verdun (843) split the Frankish Empire into three. Lothair retained the title of Emperor and ruled the Middle Kingdom, consisting of the Low Countries, n France, Switzerland, and n Italy