Battle of Fontenoy
841 CE · Fontenoy-en-Puisaye (Yonne, modern France) · World · Medieval
The allies defeated the army of Lothair I, but both sides suffered heavy casualties, and the battle became a tragic memory for the Frankish nobility.
Belligerents
Charles the Bald and Louis the German
- Commanders
- Charles the Bald, Louis the German
- Strength
- Coalition
Lothair I's side
- Commanders
- Lothair I
- Strength
- Eldest son's army
Background
After the death of Louis the Pious, his three sons went to civil war over the inheritance, with Charles the Bald and Louis the German joining forces against their elder brother Lothair.
Course of the battle
- StandoffThe three armies formed up facing one another near Fontenoy.
- Bloody fightingThe allies and Lothair's army clashed fiercely, with heavy casualties.
- Retreat in disarrayLothair I's army, unable to hold, fell back in disarray.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 841 CE |
|---|---|
| Place | Fontenoy-en-Puisaye (present-day Yonne, France) |
| Result | The allies defeated the army of Lothair I, but both sides suffered heavy casualties, and the battle became a tragic memory for the Frankish nobility. |
| Winner | Charles the Bald and Louis the German |
| Casualties | Both sides lost heavily among their nobles and knights; the sources describe the battlefield as harrowing. |
| Territorial change | Lothair I's power suffered a setback, paving the way for the peace talks that divided the empire in three the following year. |
Impact
It led to the Treaty of Verdun in 843, which divided the Frankish Kingdom in three and laid the foundations of France, Germany and Italy.
See the world in 841 on the map →