The collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD marked the end of classical antiquity and the beginning of the Middle Ages. The ensuing division of Europe was divided among various Germanic tribes, the most influential of which were the Franks. The rise of the Frankish kingdom, especially under Charlemagne, became a turning point in European history. Charlemagne not only unified most of Western Europe, but was also crowned emperor by the Pope, an act that symbolized the inheritance of the Roman Empire's authority and the union of Christendom. Charlemagne's death brought about the division of the kingdom, and his descendants divided the empire into three through the Treaty of Verdun, laying the foundations for the major states of Europe that would follow.
On a winter night shortly after Charlemagne's death, his three grandsons sat by the fireplace, their melancholy countenances reflected by the fire. They all know that the vast empire left by their grandfather can only be shared among them now.
Charlemagne's eldest grandson, Lothair I, said: "The empire that my grandfather once united, now must be divided into three parts. I will inherit the central region and continue our glory with the title of 'Holy Roman Emperor'." ”
Ludwig II, as the second son, gained access to the eastern region, he nodded silently, but his heart was full of uneasiness: "Although the eastern region is vast, the ethnic complex is complex, and I have no clue how to go in the future." ”
The youngest bald Charlie was given the western region, and although he was young, he was not small: "Although the west is not as fertile as the middle, I will establish my dynasty there and let the world remember my name." ”
Over time, the respective territories of the three brothers experienced different fates. The Middle Frankish kingdom of Lothair I gradually collapsed due to internal strife and external pressure. His children and grandchildren continued the civil war for power and land, which eventually led to the division and weakening of Lorraine.
Under the rule of his descendants, Ludwig II's East Frankish Kingdom gradually developed into the later German Empire. They have consolidated their power in the east, although they have also experienced numerous internal strife and intrusion by foreign enemies.
In the west, the West Frankish kingdom of Charles the Bald gradually evolved into the Kingdom of France. Despite the poor initial conditions, Charles's descendants gradually strengthened the country through political marriages and military expansion.
After several generations, the originally unified Frankish Empire eventually split into three separate states: France, Germany, and Italy. Every country has left an indelible mark on the history of Europe, and its cultural, political and social structures have been shaped from this historical division. Although division has brought about a series of conflicts and wars, it has also prompted countries to think and practice more deeply about their self-identity and nation-building.
In the long course of history, the division of the Frankish Empire was not the end, but a new beginning. Charlemagne's glory may be gone, but his spirit and philosophy – to rule through unity and law – are still bearing fruit in the nations of his descendants. Isn't today's European union the modern embodiment of this idea? From the fragmentation of the Middle Ages to the integration of the modern age, history seems to tell us that separation is not for the sake of permanent dispersion, but for the rediscovery of unity on a broader level. In this regard, Charlemagne's legacy is particularly precious.