Dauphins of the Viennois

The Counts of Albon (Comtes d'Albon) were members of the medieval nobility in what is now south-eastern France.

Guigues IV, Count of Albon (d. 1142) was nicknamed le Dauphin or the Dolphin. His nickname morphed into a title among his successors. By 1293, the lands ruled by the Counts Albon, the old comitatus Albionis, were known as the Dauphiné of Viennois (Dalphinatus Viennensis).

The titles and lands had been part of the Holy Roman Empire since 1032. They passed to Philip VI of France in 1349 on condition that the heir to the French crown always be named Dauphin, and be personal holder of the lands and titles. By condition of the Emperor, the Dauphiny could never be united to France. When the King of France had no son, he would personally rule the Dauphiny separately, as Dauphin. Thus, the province technically remained in the Holy Roman Empire even after 1349, and it was administered separately from France well into the early modern period; it was incorporated into France only de facto with the rise of absolutism, in the 17th century.

Humbert II sold his lands and titles to Philip VI of France.

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