CHAPTER VI 
GERMANY, ITALY, AND THE RESTORATION OF THE 
EMPIRE 
IN Germany Feudalism was thoroughly established in 
the time of great disorder which followed the death of 
Arnulf, the conqueror of the Northmen. In the 
Minority of his son, Lewis the Child, the central 
authority was reduced to a shadow in spite of the 
efforts of his minister, Bishop Hatto, of the mouse- 
tower legend. There was no unity in the German 
kingdom. The “five nations” which had been Tır 
united under the rule of Arnulf had gained their wArons” 
practical independence as the duchies of Franconia, 
Saxony, Suabia, Bavaria and Lorraine. Lorraine 
indeed threw off even the nominal yoke of the German 
king and its duke gave his allegiance to the king of 
the West Franks. With the death of Lewis the male Enn 
line of the eastern branch of the Carolingians came to Oro. 
an end, and Conrad of Franconia, a descendant Of LINGIANS 
Charles the Great through the female line, was elected GERMANY 
king. Conrad was able to make little headway against 9!1 
the power of the dukes, and on his death-bed urged CoxrAnT 
that the most powerful of these dukes, Henry of (ON MkaN- 
Saxony, should be elected as his successor, as the 911-918 
By man strong enough to perform the duties of 
ing.