CHAPTER IX 
FRANCE UP TO THE HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR 
WE have traced the fortunes of the German kingdom 
up to the middle of the thirteenth century. It is NOW 
time to turn back and follow out the development of 
the kingdom of France. 
When, on the death of Charles the Fat, the kingdom 
of the West Franks was given to Count Odo of Paris, 
he gained little but an empty title. Although he had 
the support of the Church he had little real power over 
the nobles; in spite, however, of the attempts of his 
Carolingian rivals he managed to keep the crown till 
his death, when it reverted again to a Carolingian, 
Charles the Simple, chiefly noted for his treaty with 
the Norman Rollo, which led to the foundation of 
Normandy. Charles, however, died in prison, and 
with his death the kingdom passed again from the 
Carolingians. In fact, for the century following the 
disruption of the Empire in 888 the crown of the West 
Franks passed backwards and forwards between the 
Carolingians and the family of Odo. The Carolingians 
spoke German, and when they were the nominal rulers 
of Gaul held their court at Laon in the north-east 
corner. The family of Odo spoke French, and Paris 
was their headquarters. But whoever was the nominal 
ruler he had !ilile nower. The dukes and counts, 
originally the ze 7 Mcials "7 hc provinces, had