Online Encyclopedia
Gascony
Gascony (Gascogne in French) is a region in southwest France. It encompasses départements of Landes, Gers, and Hautes-Pyrénées and parts of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Lot-et-Garonne, Tarn-et-Garonne, Haute-Garonne, Gironde, and Ariège.
Main industries are :
- fishing
- stock raising
- wine making
- brandy distilling
- tourism
Gascony was inhabited to a large extent by Basques. It is the home of the Gascon language.
History of Gascony
Local Basque clans were in Gascony lands from time immemorial. First it was taken over by the Roman Empire, then the Visigoths, and finally it belonged to the Frankish Kingdom. With its deterioration, it emerged for a time as a separate state and, in fact, has retained even to this day a reputation for nurturing a stubborn and independent people.
Timeline :
- the Roman Empire 27 BC-395 CE
- the Western Roman Empire 395-418
- the Visigoths 418-507
- the Franks 507-511
- the Carolingian Empire 719-872
- Dukes of Gascony under the Carolingians
- Kingdom of Gascony (872-1032)
- France 1032-1039
- Navarre 1039-1052
- Aquitaine 1052-1137
- France 1137-1152
- England 1152-1449
- France thereafter
The most important towns are :
External link
- This article incorporates some information taken from http://www.hostkingdom.net/ with permission
Last updated: 02-07-2005 11:09:16
Last updated: 02-25-2005 14:24:08