Charles the Fat

Charles the Fat was the last Carolingian emperor of legitimate birth and the last to rule a united kingdom of the Franks. He was the youngest son of Louis the German and Hemma, and a great-grandson of Charlemagne. He inherited various kingdoms of his father and brothers, and was crowned emperor by Pope John VIII in 881. He also acquired West Francia after the death of Carloman II in 884, thus reuniting the entire Carolingian Empire. However, Charles was not a capable ruler. He was often ill and possibly suffered from epilepsy. He failed to defend his empire from the Viking invasions and twice paid them tribute to leave. He also faced rebellions from his nobles and relatives, who resented his favoritism towards his chief minister Liutward. In 887, his nephew Arnulf of Carinthia led a coup against him and deposed him in East Francia, Lotharingia, and Italy. Charles was forced to abdicate and retire to Neudingen, where he died a few weeks later. Charles's death marked the end of the Carolingian Empire, which soon splintered into several smaller kingdoms. His legacy is mostly negative, as he is remembered as an incompetent and ineffective ruler who failed to preserve the unity of Charlemagne's empire.