List of kings and dukes of Lorraine
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The kings and dukes of Lorraine have held different posts under different governments over different regions, since its creation as the kingdom of Lotharingia by the Treaty of Prüm, in 855. The first rulers of the newly established region were kings of the Franks. The Latin construction "Lotharingia" evolved over time into "Lorraine" in French, "Lotharingen" in Dutch and "Lothringen" in German. After the Carolingian kingdom was absorbed into its neighbouring realms in the late ninth century, dukes were appointed over the territory. In the mid-tenth century, the duchy was divided into Lower Lorraine and Upper Lorraine, the first evolving into the historical Low Countries, the second became known as the Duchy of Lorraine and existed well into the modern era.
Kings of Lotharingia
Lothair II (855–869)
Charles the Bald claimed Lotharingia on Lothair's death and was crowned king in Metz, but his brother Louis the German opposed his claim and in 870 the Treaty of Mersen divided Lotharingia between the two brothers and subsequently their sons. In 880, the Treaty of Ribemont gave the whole of Lotharingia to Louis the Younger, son of Louis the German.
Between 869-895 the title King or Duke of Lotharingia did not exist. The territory was ruled by the king of West Francia (869-870), kings of West Francia and East Francia (870-876), kings of West Francia and Saxony (876-880), king of Saxony (880-882), and finally King of East Francia (882-895).
Between 869 and 895 the region was ruled as follows:
Charles the Bald (869–870), king of West Francia and Italy, and Carolingian emperor
Louis the German, king of East Francia and Charles the Bald, king of West Francia (870- 876)
Louis the Younger, king of Saxony and Charles the Bald (876-877), king of West Francia
Louis the Younger, king of Saxony and Louis III of France (877-880), king of West Francia
Louis the Younger (880–882), king of Saxony and Bavaria
Charles the Fat (882–887), king of East Francia, Italy, and West Francia and Carolingian emperor
Arnulf of Carinthia (887–895), king of East Francia and Italy, and Carolingian emperor
In 895 the title of king of Lotharingia was reestablished under:
Zwentibold (895–900), King of Lorraine
After Zwentibold was defeated and killed in battle by Count Reginar, the rule reverted to a duchy under the king of East Francia and in 911 under West Francia.
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