West Francia

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Kingdom of the West Franks
Regnum Francorum Occidentalium
843–987
Kingdom of the West Franks (red) in 843.
Kingdom of the West Franks (red) in 843.
CapitalParis
Common languagesLatin (liturgical; official);
(popular:-) Old French, Old Occitan, etc.
Religion
Roman Catholicism
GovernmentMonarchy
King, Emperor 
• 840–877
Charles II (first)
• 986–987
Louis V (last)
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Treaty of Verdun, divides Francia into three realms
843
8 August 870
880
• Disestablished
3 July 987
CurrencySolidus, Triens, Denarius, Pfennig
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Francia
Kingdom of France
Today part of Andorra
 Belgium
 France
 Netherlands
 Spain

West Francia, also known as the West Frankish Kingdom or Francia Occidentalis, was a short-lived kingdom. It was the lands of the western part of the Carolingian Empire. They came under the control of Charlemagne's grandson, Charles the Bald, as a result of the Treaty of Verdun of 843.

The Frankish Empire was the great realm united by Charlemagne that was a large part of Western Europe. It was split after a three-year-long civil war between his grandsons (840-843). Charles the Bald and his half-brother Louis the German went against his brother Lothair I.

The Carolingian Empire of the Franks founded by their grandfather lasted only one generation through their father Louis the Pious. His realm was split into East Francia, West Francia or the Western Realm, and Middle Francia. The West Frankish Kingdom is the start of both medieval France and modern France.

In 987 Hugh Capet, Duke of France and Count of Paris, started the Capetian dynasty. The Valois and Bourbon houses ruled France for more than 800 years.