What became of the Carolingian Empire after Charlemagne's death, and which ninth-century agreement settled the outcome?
It was conquered by seaborne raiders, whose leaders divided the whole realm into three kingdoms of their own.
It passed undivided to a single heir in each of the following generations.
It was handed over whole to the eastern emperor by treaty.
It was divided among his descendants, and the ninth-century Treaty of Verdun set out the parts.✓Bonne réponse
Explication
Frankish custom shared a ruler's lands among his sons instead of passing everything to the eldest, so the empire broke into portions within two generations, and a ninth-century treaty put the three-way division on record. Conquest by raiders is the error to guard against, because raiding did press hard on those same lands at that same time, yet the partition was an agreement reached inside the ruling family.