Thus strengthened, the conspirators considered themselves certain of success.

They had the empress Judith carried off and shut up in the convent of St.Radegonde at Poitiers; and Louis in person came to deliver himself up to them at Compiegne, where they were assembled.

There they passed a decree to the effect that the power and title of emperor were transferred from Louis to Lothaire, his eldest son; that the act whereby a share of the empire had but lately beer assigned to Charles was annulled; and that the act of 817, which had regulated the partition of Louis's dominions after his death, was once more in force.

But soon there was a burst of reaction in favor of the emperor; Lothaire's two brothers, jealous of his late elevation, made overtures to their father; the ecclesiastics were a little ashamed at being mixed up in a revolt; the people felt pity for the poor, honest emperor; and a general assembly, meeting at Nimeguen, abolished the acts of Compiegne, and restored to Louis his title and his power.

But it was not long before there was revolt again, originating this time with Pepin, king of Aquitaine.