The Treaty of Verdun

The Treaty of Verdun, signed in 843 A.D., divided the Carolingian Empire, which had been ruled by Charlemagne and his descendants. After Charlemagne's death, his grandsons fought for power, leading to this treaty as a way to settle their disputes. It split the empire into three kingdoms: West Francia (modern France), East Francia (modern Germany), and Middle Francia (parts of Italy, the Low Countries, and the Alps). This division laid the groundwork for the development of modern European nations and marked the beginning of the fragmentation of the Holy Roman Empire.