A key player in this intrigue was Bernard of Septimania, Count of Barcelona, who remained outside the battle awaiting its result, upon which he sent his son William of Septimania to offer homage to Charles and to promise him that his father would obtain the submission of Charles’ nephew Pepin II, who was claiming to rule Aquitaine.
Bernard refused to accept the decision and revolted, openly allying himself to Pepin II and expelling Acfred from Toulouse in 843.
Charles responded by sending Guerin, Duke of Provence, to direct the 842 campaign in Aquitaine against Bernard.
Renewed Viking invasions and Breton raids compelled an end to the internal civil struggles afflicting the empire and, in August 843, the Treaty of Verdun was signed between Charles, Louis, and Lothair.
However, Pepin’s ally Nominoë, Duke of Brittany, refused to submit, and eventually defeated Charles in the Battle of Ballon on 22 November 845.