A Carolingian military engagement in Aquitaine that ended with the capture and execution of Bernard of Septimania but failed to secure Charles the Bald's control over the region.
Key Facts
- Year
- 844
- Bernard of Septimania executed
- May 844, by order of Charles the Bald
- Frankish outcome
- Defeat near the river Agout; forced to retreat
- Notable casualties
- Ekkehard, Count of Hesbaye, and two of his sons killed
- Preceding treaty
- Treaty of Verdun, August 843
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Bernard of Septimania allied himself with Pepin II of Aquitaine and expelled Acfred from Toulouse in 843, defying Charles the Bald's authority. Charles had previously dispossessed Bernard of Toulouse during his 842 campaign in Aquitaine. This open rebellion prompted Charles to mount a renewed military expedition in 844 aimed at subduing both Bernard and Pepin II.
In 844, Charles the Bald led Frankish forces against Toulouse to force Pepin II's submission and punish Bernard of Septimania. Bernard was captured during the assault and executed in May 844 on Charles's orders. Ekkehard, Count of Hesbaye, and two of his sons were killed in the fighting. Frankish troops were nonetheless defeated by Aquitanian forces near the river Agout and compelled to retreat without meaningful territorial gains.
Charles the Bald failed to consolidate control over Aquitaine despite Bernard's execution. Pepin II retained his position, and his ally Nominoë of Brittany continued to resist, eventually defeating Charles at the Battle of Ballon on 22 November 845. The campaign demonstrated the persistent difficulty Charles faced in imposing authority over rebellious vassals in the aftermath of the Carolingian civil war.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Charles the Bald, Guerin, Duke of Provence.
Side B
2 belligerents
Pepin II of Aquitaine, Bernard of Septimania.