Lower Lotharingia

The Duchy of Lower Lotharingia (also called Lower Lorraine or Northern Lotharingia) was a medieval duchy within the Holy Roman Empire. It was established in 959, following the division of the larger Lotharingia, which had been created from the Middle Frankish kingdom of King Lothair II in 855. Lower Lotharingia comprised most of modern-day Belgium, Luxembourg, parts of the Netherlands, and the northern part of the German Rhineland.

 History 
Lower Lotharingia emerged as one of the two of the former Duchy of Lotharingia, which had been part of the Carolingian Middle Francia. In 959, Duke Bruno the Great, brother of Emperor Otto I, divided Lotharingia into Upper and Lower Lotharingia. Bruno granted Count Godfrey I of Hainaut the title of Duke of Lower Lorraine. 

While the duchy of Upper Lorraine and the duchy of Lower Lorraine were briefly reunited in 1033 under Duke Gothelo I, they quickly separated again, and by 1044, Lower Lotharingia began to decline in significance. By the late 12th century, the duchy had lost most of its political power. Upon the death of Duke Godfrey III in 1190, the duchy effectively ceased to exist as a territorial unit, although the title of Duke of Lothier continued to be used by the Dukes of Brabant.

 Legacy 
Lower Lotharingia played a key role in the medieval power struggles between the Holy Roman Emperors and the kings of France. The duchy’s territory later fragmented into smaller principalities and counties, which would go on to become parts of modern-day Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

 Related pages 
 Holy Roman Empire
 Brabant

 References 

Category:States of the Holy Roman Empire
Category:Duchies of the Holy Roman Empire
Category:Former monarchies of Europe
Category:History of Belgium
Category:History of Luxembourg
Category:950s establishments
Category:1190s disestablishments