Lotharingia lives

A better definition of Lotharingia would help.

It was geographically such a nightmare it wouldn't possibly last. It was simply a middle-strip between Germany and France, the Lowlands, and Northern Italy, divided by the Alps. Not necessarily an easy group of territories to govern in the middle ages. If it was simply limited to the Lowlands and possibly Lorraine is might be a bit more feasible..

Is it possible to divide the Frankish inheritance further, perhaps four ways? France, Germany, Lotharingia, and Northern Italy? If Lotharingia doesn't exist south of the alps, it might be more feasible. Might also help if Lothar can shore up more support, he ended up betrayed in the end IIRC.
 
A better definition of Lotharingia would help.

It was geographically such a nightmare it wouldn't possibly last. It was simply a middle-strip between Germany and France, the Lowlands, and Northern Italy, divided by the Alps. Not necessarily an easy group of territories to govern in the middle ages. If it was simply limited to the Lowlands and possibly Lorraine is might be a bit more feasible..
While it is true that the West and East Franks fought over Middle Francia - which is not the same as Lothariniga - this did not begin until Lothair II and Louis II died without any legitimate heirs. It's important to keep in mind that Lothair was the eldest son of Louis the Pious, so in effect he received the best Frankish lands - the rich areas along the Rhine and Rhone, as well as Italy. But Lothair quickly left Italy to his son Louis (II), ruling mostly in Lotharingia (which included Burgundy). This proved defendable, and Lothair was able to maintain the integrity of his lands even as they were divided between his three sons following their father's death: Louis II receiving Italy and the Imperial title, Lothair II becoming King of Lotharingia, and Charles becoming King of Provence. Charles was the first to die, and his realm was divided up between Lothair and Louis.

Subsequently Lothair spent many years trying to legitimize his bastard son Hugh, and was close to success before his unfortunate death after becoming sick by chance in Italy in 869. Louis claimed his younger brother's land, but was bogged down fighting the Saracens and Lombards in Southern Italy and could not prevent the partition. He soon died without any heirs as well, and that was the end of Lotharingia (there were attempts to recreate it, however: see Rudolph I of Burgundy.

Thus a key POD for the survival of Lotharingia is the survival of Lothair II. If he lives a few more years and succeeds in having Hugh legitimized by Pope Adrian II (more amenable than his predecessor, Nicholas I), he has an heir. Assuming Louis II predeceases both, which would not be surprising, seeing as Lois was ten years his elder, Lothair II will inherit Italy without serious contention. And when he dies, his son Hugh will inherit a reunited Middle Francia. Hugh lived until 895 in OTL, and around this time the Carolingian Empire started to fall apart. So it's difficult to speculate how things would progress.
 
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