Charles II, Frankish Emperor or "Charles the Bald", born June 13, 823, died Oct. 6, 877, was the son of Emperor LOUIS I by his second wife.Resented by three older half brothers, Charles became a pawn in the court politics of the Frankish empire, but by the Treaty of Verdun (843)he was recognized as king of the West Franks, the first true king of France. Toward the end of his life he was acknowledged (875) as emperor withthe pope's support. Throughout his reign, Charles had to struggle against Viking raiders and disloyal magnates as well as with his own relatives.The French bishops helped him repel his brother LOUIS THE GERMAN in 859, but ten years later Louis prevented Charles from regaining hisfamily's ancient homeland in LOTHARINGIA. The Treaty of Mersen (870), which established the ultimate boundaries of medieval France, deprived himof most of this disputed territory, and by his death the French monarchy was in serious decline.