The Genealogica Arnulfi Comitis names (in order) "Hlotharium Karolum Ludovicum et Mathildim" as children of "Hludovicum ex regina Gerberga". Flodoard names "Lotharius puer, filius Ludowici", when recording his accession. Rodulfus Glaber names "Lotharium" son of "Ludowicus ex Gerberga, uxore quondam Gisleberti ducis". Guillaume of Jumièges records that King Louis received news of the birth of his son “ex Gerberga coniuge illi” after his conference with "Wuillelmum ducem", whom he asked to sponsor his baptism as “Lotharium”.
He was elected to succeed his father 12 Nov 954 as LOTHAIRE King of the Franks, and was crowned at Reims immediately. He ruled through the regency of Hugues "le Grand" until 956, and that of his maternal uncle Bruno Archbishop of Köln until 965. Thereafter Hugues "Capet" became the real ruler throughout the remainder of Lothaire's reign. King Lothaire fought lengthy campaigns to recapture Lotharingia. In 978, he captured Aachen, but Emperor Otto II pursued him and besieged Paris in Sep 978 although he retreated in November. King Lothaire and King Otto made peace at Margut in Jun 980, the former renouncing his claim to Lotharingia. However, after Emperor Otto died in 983, King Lothaire renewed his efforts against Lotharingia, conquered Verdun and captured Thierry Duke of Upper Lotharingia.
He died while preparing another offensive against Liège and Cambrai. The Historia Francorum Senonensis records the death in 986 of "Hlotharius rex" and his burial "in basilica beati Remigii Remis". The Obituaire de Notre-Dame de Paris records the death "VI Id Mar" of "Clotharius rex". 1
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