Duchy of Aquitania

Duchy of Aquitaine
Duché d'Aquitaine
Fief of Francia (602 – late 7th century), independent duchy (intermittently late 7th century – 769)
602–1453
Flag Angevin coat of arms (12th century)
Map of France in 1154
Capital		Not specified
Languages		Medieval Latin Old Occitan
Religion		Christianity
Government		Feudal monarchy
Duke of Aquitaine
•	860–866	Ranulf I of Aquitaine
•	1058–1086	William VIII of Aquitaine
•	1126–1137	William X
•	1137–1204	Eleanor of Aquitaine
•	1422–1453	Henry IV of Aquitaine
Historical era		Middle Ages
•	Duke appointed by The Merovingian kings	602
•	Annexed by Kingdom of France	1453
Preceded by Succeeded by Francia Duchy of Guyenne Kingdom of France
Today part of		France

The Duchy of Aquitaine (Occitan: Ducat d'Aquitània, IPA: [dy.kat da.ki.ta.ɲo], French: Duché d'Aquitaine, IPA: [dy.ʃe da.ki.tɛn]) was a historical fiefdom in western, central and southern areas of present-day France to the south of the Loire River, although its extent, as well as its name, fluctuated greatly over the centuries, at times comprising much of what is now southwestern France (Gascony) and central France.

It originated in the 7th century as a duchy of Francia, ultimately a recreation of the Roman provinces of Aquitania Prima and Secunda. As a duchy, it broke up after the conquest of the independent Aquitanian duchy of Waiofar, going on to become a sub-kingdom within the Carolingian Empire, eventually subsumed in West Francia after the 843 partition of Verdun. It reappeared as a duchy, and in the High Middle Ages, an enlarged Aquitaine pledged loyalty to the Angevin kings of England. Their claims in France triggered the Hundred Years' War, in which the kingdom of France emerged victorious in the 1450s, with many incorporated areas coming to be ruled directly by the French kings.

Gallia Aquitania fell under Visigothic rule in the 5th century. It was conquered by the Franks under Clovis I in 507, as a result of the Battle of Vouillé. During the 6th and early 7th century, it was under direct rule of Frankish kings, divided between the realms of Childebert II and Guntram in the Treaty of Andelot of 587. Under Chlothar II, Aquitaine was again integral part of Francia, but after Chlothar's death in 628, his heir Dagobert I granted a subkingdom in southern Aquitaine to his younger brother Charibert II. This subkingdom, consisting of Gascony and the southern fringe of Aquitaine proper, is conventionally known as "Aquitaine" and forms the historical basis for the later duchy. Charibert campaigned successfully against the Basques, but after his death in 632, they revolted again, in 635 subdued by an army sent by Dagobert (who was at the same time forced to deal with a rebellion in Brittany).