Boso, the son of a Frankish nobleman, and related by marriage to the Carolingians, declared himself King of Provence in AD 879 as the result of a succession dispute following the death of the West Francian king Louis II, the Stammerer (AD 877-879). The death of Louis left behind two possible heirs in his two sons, Louis and Carloman. Boso, along with other western Frankish nobles pushed for making Louis the sole successor to the kingdom. When both sons were elected as as joint-kings, Boso renounced his allegiance to them both and declared himself an independent ruler of the territory of Provence. Furthermore, he claimed rather belatedly that Louis II, before his death had named him as his heir; later that year, the regional bishops and nobles confirmed Boso’s claim by electing him king and successor to Louis II. The sons of Louis II, recognizing the threat, quickly settled their division of their father’s kingdom and proceeded to subdue the renegade king. Uniting their force with the king of East Francia, Charles III, the Fat, in AD 881 they unsuccessfully besieged Boso’s capital at Vienne. The following summer, the city was once again besieged, this time successfully, which deprived Boso of his kingdom. This event, however, did not knock him out, and Boso remained ruler of a much reduced kingdom until his death in AD 887.
CAROLINGIANS. Boso. King of Provence, AD 879-887. AR Denier (1.66g, 6h). Vienne mint. +BOSO CRLCIL DEI, REX across central field / VIENNL CIVIS, small cross. Depeyrot 1142; M&G 1262; MEC 1, -; Poey d'Avant 4800; Roberts 1881.
