ARNULF, illegitimate son of KARLOMAN King of the East Franks & his mistress Liutswindis --- ([850]-Regensburg 8 Dec 899, bur Regensburg St Emmeran). The Annales Ducum Bavariæ record the death in 880 of "Karlomannus rex" leaving "regnum cum ducatu Bawarie" to "Arnolfo, filio suo ex concubina nobili de Karinthia"[84]. "Arnolfus…rex" donated the abbey of Herrieden to Eichstätt by charter dated 23 Feb 888 in which he names "Karlomanni patris nostri"[85]. He is called "Arnulfum filium spurium Carolomanni" when recording his accession in 887[86]. He was invested with the March of Pannonia and Carinthia in [870]. During the illness of his father, he administered Bavaria but was obliged to transfer the territory to his uncle Ludwig III on his father's death, in return for receiving the duchy of Carinthia. He led a powerful army of Carinthians and Slavs against Emperor Karl III in early Nov 887, and 27 Nov 887 issued his first charter as ARNULF King of the East Franks. Reuter highlights the absence of evidence concerning the manner in which Arnulf assumed power in place of his uncle[87]. Fulco Archbishop of Reims came to Worms in Jun 888 to invite him to claim the kingdom of the West Franks, challenging Eudes who had recently been elected king. Arnulf won a decisive victory over the Vikings at the River Dyle in 891, after which Viking raids in the east Frankish kingdom all but ceased[88]. Called by the Pope to fight Guido I Duke of Spoleto, Arnulf crossed the Alps in 894 and subjugated northern Italy, but was forced to withdraw by Italian resistance. Returning to Italy after Guido's death in 895, he was crowned Emperor ARNULF at Rome 22 Feb 896 by Pope Formosus. He marched against Lambert of Spoleto, but was struck by paralysis and obliged to return to Bavaria[89]. Regino records the death "899 III Kal Dec" of "Arnulfus imperator" and his burial "in Odingas ubi et pater eius tumulatus est"[90]. The necrology of Prüm records the death "900 III Kal Dec" of "Arnoldus imperator"[91]. The necrology of Regensburg St Emmeran records the death "V Kal Dec" and "VI Id Dec" of "Arnolfus imperator fundator huius loci"[92].
m (before end 888) ODA, daughter of --- (-after 30 Nov 903). "Arnolfus…rex" names "coniugis nostræ Otæ" in his donation of property "in comitatu Aribonis in loco…Scalaha in villa Obrinindorf" to Snello abbey dated 3 May 889[93]. No indication has been found about the origin of Oda. Settipani suggests that she may have been related to the future Konrad I King of Germany[94]. However, he bases this on King Arnulf's charter dated 19 May 891 in which he names "Chonradi…comitis et nepotis nostri"[95]. However, a relationship between Arnulf and Konrad can be identified through Konrad's mother, who was the niece of King Arnulf's paternal grandmother, without the need to speculate on a connection through Queen Oda. Herimannus records "Outa regina adulterii crimine cum quibusdam viris infamata 72 principum iuramento Ratisponæ in conventu absoluta est"[96].
[Mistress (1): ([870]) [WINBURG, daughter of --- (-after 18 May 898). "Arnolfus…imperator augustus" confirmed an exchange of land "que dicitur Nordilinga in pago Retiensi" between Bishop Tuto of Regensburg and "femina quedam nobilis Uuinpurc" by charter dated 18 May 898 which names "filii sui Zuentipulichi"[97]. It has been assumed that the Zwentibold named in this charter was the illegitimate son of King Arnulf but this is not certain. There was a second Zwentibold at the time, son of Zwentibold [Swatopulk] King of Moravia who died in 894, as shown by the charter of "Arnolfus imperator augustus" dated 31 Aug 898 under which the emperor granted property in "Charentariche in comitatu ipsius consanguinei nostri [Liutbaldi]…Gurca…et…in Gurcatala et in alia loco qui dicitur Zulszah" to "viro progenie bonæ nobilitatis exorto Zuentibolch…Liutbaldi…propinqui ac illustris nostri marchionis vassallo" at the request of "Iringi et Isangrimi…comitum nostrorum"[98]. It is improbable that the Zwentibold named in this latter charter was Arnulf's son, who in all his known charters during the period 895/900 is referred to as "rex" (as king of Lotharingia). In addition, the charter in question specifies no relationship between the emperor and Zwentibold, in contrast to the explicitly mentioned more remote relationship between the former and Markgraf Luitpold.]