Charles the Simple
Categories: 879 births | 929 deaths | French monarchs
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Charles III "the Simple" (September 17, 879 - October 7, 929) was a member of the Carolingian dynasty. He ruled as King of Western Francia from 898 to 922.
The posthumous son of King Louis II of Western Francia and Adelaide, Charles married Frederonne who died in 917 and he then married Eadgifu, the daughter of Edward the Elder of England, on October 7, 919.
As a child, Charles was prevented from succeeding to the throne at the time of the death in 884 of his half-brother Carloman or at the time Charles the Fat was deposed in 887 after he had succeeded Carloman. Instead, Odo, Count of Paris, succeeded Charles the Fat. Nonetheless, Charles became king at the death of Odo in 898.
The kingdom of Charles the Simple was almost identical with today's France, but he was obliged to concede what would become known as Normandy to the Norsemen.
In 922 some of the barons revolted and crowned Robert I, brother of Odo, king. In 923, at the battle of Soissons, King Robert was killed, but Charles was also defeated. Rudolph, Duke of Burgundy was elected king, and Charles III was imprisoned.
Charles III died on October 7, 929, in prison at Péronne (Somme, France) and was buried there at the L'abbaye de St-Fursy. His son with Eadgifu would eventually be crowned King Louis IV of Western Francia.
| Preceded by: {{{before}}}}|before=Odo}} | {{{title}}} {{{years}}}}|title=King of Western Francia|years=898–922}} | Succeeded by: {{{after}}} |
| Preceded by: {{{before}}}}|before=Louis the Child}} | {{{title}}} {{{years}}}}|title=King of Lotharingia|years=911–922}} | Succeeded by: {{{after}}} |
es:Carlos III de Francia fr:Charles III de France he:שארל השלישי מלך צרפת (התם) it:Carlo III di Francia nl:Karel de Eenvoudige ja:シャルル3世 (西フランク王) pl:Karol III Prostak sv:Karl den enfaldige zh:查理三世 (法兰西)