WI: Pepin survives Charlemagne instead of Louis the Pious

If Pepin would have been the only surviving heir of Charlemagne instead of his brother Louis the Pious, which consequences would have bring to the fate of the Empire?

- Bernard, as the only son of Pepin, would have been the only heir of Pepin so the civil wars of the 830-840 period could have been avoided (unless his cousins would have claimed parts of the Empire?)

- Pepin would have had a governing policy more similar to Charlemagne than his brother Louis had. Could he have focused more on new external expansion rather than internal fighting?
 
Wasn't Bernard illegitimate? I know the Carolingians were more flexible with such things, but if Pepin gets married as emperor and has sons couldn't there have been problems?
 
Wasn't Bernard illegitimate? I know the Carolingians were more flexible with such things, but if Pepin gets married as emperor and has sons couldn't there have been problems?

Bernard was indeed illegitimate, but Charlemagne allowed him to inherit the Kingdom of Italy, so his grandfather accepted him as a legitimate heir.

Pepin had other children, but they were all daughters. He was 37 y.o. at the time of his death so it is possible that he had married once he would be crowned Emperor (like Louis did when he widowed) but there was no real need as he already had a recognized heir (Bernard), so I think it would be more likely he would have keep on his lifestyle of having different mistresses.

There is the possibility that the cousins of Bernard (the sons of Louis: Lothair etc.) could have challenged the legitimacy of Bernard as the only heir of the Empire and maybe they could have claimed the part of the Empire that Louis was supposed to inherit. Then we have here two possibilities: either Pepin reaches an agreement with them and he allows his nephews to rule some kingdoms under his Imperial authority or maybe Pepin/Bernard try to neutralize them, with the risk of civil war.
 
I am considering writing a TL about an alternate story of Bernard.

Surely there is nothing similar in the forum.
 
Top