ouis II (of Germany), called The
German (circa 806-76), king of Germany (843-76), the third son of
Holy Roman Emperor Louis I. An active participant in the civil
wars that marked the last ten years of his father's reign, he
became ruler of all Germany east of the Rhine by the Treaty of
Verdun in 843. Even after that, however, he continued to fight
his kinsmen, winning the eastern part of Lorraine in 870. An able
ruler, Louis strengthened government in his lands and encouraged
the development of vernacular literature. [Microsoft Encarta 98
Encyclopedia]