Louis the Pious Learns of Charlemagne’s Death (814)

On January 28, 814, Louis the Pious, King of Aquitaine, is residing at his villa in Doué-la-Fontaine, Anjou, when he receives news of the death of his father, Charlemagne. This moment marks the end of the reign of the greatest Carolingian ruler and the beginning of a new era for the Frankish Empire.

Unlike Charlemagne, who had ruled as both a warrior and administrator, Louis would face internal dynastic struggles, noble revolts, and external pressures, setting the stage for the eventual fragmentation of the Carolingian Empire. His reign would be defined not only by religious devotion and reforms but also by the challenge of maintaining the unity of his father's vast empire.