Charles of Provence

Charles of Provence, born in the year eight hundred forty-five, was a notable figure in the Carolingian dynasty, serving as the king and ruler of Provence and Lower Burgundy from the year eight hundred fifty-five until his untimely death in eight hundred sixty-three.

As the youngest son of Emperor Lothair I and Ermengarde of Tours, Charles inherited his realm at a tender age following his father's death. The Treaty of Prüm, established on the nineteenth of September in eight hundred fifty-five, divided Middle Francia among Lothair's three sons, with Charles receiving the regions of Lower Burgundy and Provence.

During his brief reign, Charles was largely a figurehead, with governance primarily in the hands of his tutor, Count Girart de Roussillon. Girart proved to be a vigorous regent, successfully defending the kingdom against Northmen incursions along the Rhone River. However, Charles' authority was challenged when his uncle, Charles the Bald, attempted to intervene in Provence in the year eight hundred sixty-one, though he was ultimately restrained.

Despite his royal title, Charles' rule was overshadowed by the machinations of his family. In the year eight hundred fifty-eight, Girart arranged for Provence to revert to Charles' brother Lothair in the event of Charles' death without heirs. Upon Charles' passing, however, his elder brother Louis also laid claim to the territory, leading to a division of the realm between the two brothers.