When the Lily Faced the Eagles - A Thousand Years of Franco-German Disputes

Today, a quick overview of relations between Germany and France instinctively brings to mind the war of 1870, the two world conflicts of the 20th century, the reconciliation that followed and the steering of European construction. This would be to forget that this recent history is nourished by a much older history whose roots go back more than a thousand years. Germany and France in fact come from the same birth certificate, one day in August 843 at Verdun which dismembered Charlemagne's empire. After which, they tore each other apart, came together, tore each other apart again and came together again, weaving between themselves, most often unwittingly, a common destiny forged from all their differences accumulated over time. This book traces the fascinating shared journey of two nations, sometimes friends, sometimes enemies, whose disputes have long held the forefront of world history. From the rivalry of the "founders", Charles the Bald and Louis the German, to the misunderstandings of Napoleon III and Bismarck which led to the tragedies of the following century.