Zwentibold

Zwentibold or Zventibold, Swentiboldo, Sventibaldo, Sanderbald, 1 January 870 – 13 August 900 was the illegitimate son of the Carolingian Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia. In 895, his father, then king of East Francia, granted him the Kingdom of Lotharingia, which he ruled until his death. After his death he was declared a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church.

Life

Early life

Zwentibold was the illegitimate son of the future Holy Roman Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia, and Vinburga (d. 18 May 898), one of his concubines. He was born during the reign of his great-grandfather, Louis the German in East Francia.

Zwentibold intervened in the scramble for the throne in West Francia (France) between Count Odo of Paris and Charles the Simple, but they began to cooperate against Zwentibold, when it became apparent that he intended to become king of West Francia himself. The eldest son of Arnulf was at first marked out for his succession in East Francia. According to the 870 Treaty of Meerssen and the 880 Treaty of Ribemont, the Lotharingian kingdom of former Middle Francia had fallen to the East Frankish realm. When in 893 King Arnulf's wife Ota gave birth to his legitimate son and successor Louis the Child, Zwentibold in compensation received the Lotharingian royal title, which last had been held by Lothair II.