WI: Charles the Younger and Pepin of Italy live longer

Empire_carolingien_806.png


In 806 AD, Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne attempted to divide his empire among his three heirs (Charles the Younger, Pepin of Italy, not to be confused with Pepin the Hunchback, and Louis the Pious) in, roughly, the above map's configuration. However, around three years before the death of the great emperor, Charles and Pepin died young. Louis the Pious ended up inheriting the empire in one piece, delaying its division until his death.
IOTL, the empire was divided in 843 in a roughly "west-middle-east" configuration.
But, suppose that Charles and Pepin live longer, and also sire heirs. The empire is divided as Charlemagne willed in 806.
How does this affect the history of Western Europe? Assuming that the mainframe of this territorial configuration ("north-southwest-southeast") is maintained for the coming centuries, what of it?
It seems to me that "North Francia" would be well-positioned to deal with England and the Vikings, for example.
 
My immediate question is who gets to be emperor and are the other kings his vassals?
North Francia will be dealing with Vikings enough that its southern borders could get nibbled away. Would a settlement deal still be likely? If so then Normandy is still the likely place for them. The Magyar raids would probably aid in centralisation as Aachen is core royal land and less affected.
Aquitaine should be able to deal with its Viking problem well enough to also try to push south.
Greater Lombardy would do ok if also bearing Italy until the Magyars arrive.
Brittany looks like it should do well, it probably ends up a kingdom.
 
My immediate question is who gets to be emperor and are the other kings his vassals?
I would guess that Pepin would be the one to be crowned emperor, due to the proximity of his lands to Rome. Though his position could, as usual for Frankish dynastic politics, be hotly contested by Charles and/or Louis. Considering that Charles, taking it from the map, held the most and arguably most important lands, i can see Louis refusing to aid him in his coming conflicts with Pepin.
 
I would guess that Pepin would be the one to be crowned emperor, due to the proximity of his lands to Rome. Though his position could, as usual for Frankish dynastic politics, be hotly contested by Charles and/or Louis. Considering that Charles, taking it from the map, held the most and arguably most important lands, i can see Louis refusing to aid him in his coming conflicts with Pepin.
Definitely confrontation as Charles is the stronger. It would probably behove Louis to support Pepin. If so then Emperor might not be a great title to aim for in the west and be restricted to Italy or Aquitaine at most (see Carp's great Sons of the Harlot Empress for similar development of an Italo Roman Empire in place of the HRE).
Although if North Francia fractures like Middle Francia OTL then I can see a HRE like entity formed in the clash between the Aquitaine and Lombardy kings.
 
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