Battle of Fontenoy ( 841 ) The three year Carolingian Civil War culminated in the decisive Battle of Fontenoy - en - Puisaye , also called the Battle of Fontenoy , fought at Fontenoy , near Auxerre , on the 25 June 841 . The war was the contention over the territorial inheritances the division of the unified lands of Charlemagne ' s Carolingian Empire between his grandsons , the three surviving sons of Louis the Pious . Despite provisions by Louis the Pious , war broke out between his sons and nephews . It was a defeat for the allied forces of Lothair I of Italy and Pepin II of Aquitaine and a victory for Charles the Bald and Louis the German . While hostilities continued until another two years into 843 , the Treaty of Verdun ending the war shaped and influences history in Europe even to this late modern date . Background . Louis the Pious throughout his long reign had entreated to divide his empire meritoriously amongst his sons — " all " his sons — as it was required by the Salic Law of the Franks . With the late - born Charles , his attempts led to civil wars which culminated in his vindicating defeat of his last rebellious son , Louis , in 839 . At Worms , on 30 May that year , he divided his empire for the last time , giving Lothair the kingdom he already held ( Italy ) and the imperial title , with all the other lands of the east and Charles receiving all the lands of the west . Louis was left with Bavaria while Pepin , his grandson , was left out of the inheritance . On 24 July 840 in Strasbourg , Lothair precipitated a new civil war by declaring his " imperium " over all the lands of the empire and , joining with his nephew Pepin , attacked the Loire Valley . The barons of Burgundy divided over allegiance to Charles and Lothair . Ermenaud III of Auxerre , Arnoul of Sens , and Audri of Autun pledged themselves for Lothair , while Guerin of Provence and Aubert of Avallon remained with Charles . Girard II , Count of Paris , Lothair ' s brother - in - law , joined Lothair also . In March 841 , the Burgundians faithful to Charles accompanied Guerin to join him and in May , Louis of Bavaria and his troops met Charles army at Châlons - sur - Marne . In June , Pepin finally joined with Lothair in Auxerre . The battle . The two armies , of about 150 , 000 men each , met on 25 June . According to tradition , Charles established his camp at Thury , on the hill of Roichat . Lothair and Pepin initiated battle and took the upper hand until the arrival of Guerin and his army of Provençals . While Pepin and his contingent continued to push back Charles men , Lothair was slowly pushed back himself by Louis the German and the Provençals . Finally , when victory seemed sure for Charles , Bernard of Septimania entered the conflict on his side and the victory became a rout . A total of 40 , 000 men died , including Gerard of Auvergne and Ricwin of Nantes , who fell at Charles ' side . " Neither dew nor showers nor rain ever fell again on that field where the most battle - hardened warriors had perished mourned by their mothers , their sisters , their brothers , and their friends . On Charles ' side and Louis too , the fields were white with the linen habits of the dead as they might have been with birds in the autumn . " In spite of his personal gallantry , Lothair was defeated and fled to his capital of Aachen . With fresh troops he entered upon a war of plunder , but the forces of his brothers were too strong for him , and taking with him such treasure as he could collect , he abandoned to them his capital . Angilbert ' s account . Verses by Angilbert , who fought the battle on the side of Lothar are cited by historian Eleanor Shipley Duckett as the " Most striking of all these Latin records of the battle " . The verses in English are . . . < poem > Fontenoy they call its fountain , manor to the peasant known , There the slaughter , there the ruin , of the blood of Frankish race ; Plains and forest shiver , shudder ; horror wakes the silent marsh . Neither dew nor shower nor rainfall yields its freshness to that field , Where they fell , the strong men fighting , shrewdest in the battle ' s skill , Father , mother , sister , brother , friends , the dead with tears have wept . And this deed of crime accomplished , which I here in verse have told , Angibert myself I witnessed , fighting with the other men , I alone of all remaining , in the battle ' s foremost line . On the side alike of Louis , on the side of Charles alike , Lies the field in white enshrouded , in the vestments of the dead , As it lies when birds in autumn settle white off the shore . Woe unto that day of mourning ! Never in the round of years Be it numbered in men ' s annals ! Be it banished from all mind , Never gleam of sun shine on it , never dawn its dusk awake . Night it was , a night most bitter , harder than we could endure , When they fell , the brave men fighting , shrewdest in the battle ' s skill , Father , mother , sister , brother , friends , the dead with tears have wept . Now the wailing , the lamenting , now no longer will I tell ; Each , so far as in him lieth , let him stay his weeping now ; On their souls may He have mercy , let us pray the Lord of all . < / poem >