Dauphiné

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Flag of the Dauphiné

Dauphiné , (archaic English: Dauphiny), usually referred to as the Dauphiné, is a former province in southeastern France, roughly corresponding to the present departments of the Isère, Drôme, and Hautes-Alpes. The historical capital is Grenoble and the main towns Vienne, Valence, Die, Gap and Briançon.

Le Dauphiné Libéré is a famous regional French newspaper, and organizes the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré cycle stage race.

[edit] History

Location of Dauphiné.

The area of the future Dauphiné was occupied by Allobroges and other Gaul tribes in ancient times.

After the end of the Western Roman Empire, it slowly acquired independence as a mountain principate within the Holy Roman Empire.

In the 12th century, the local ruler Count Guy IV of Albon (c.1095-1142) had a dolphin on his coat of arms and was nicknamed le Dauphin (French for dolphin). His descendants changed their title from Count of Albon to Dauphin of Viennois, after their family seat in Vienne. The ruler was known by this title until 1349, when the heirless Humbert II of Viennois sold his lordship to King Philippe VI on the condition that the heir to the throne of France would be known as le Dauphin, which was the case from that time until the revolution. The title also conferred an appanage on the region. Humbert further stipulated that the Dauphiné was exempted from many taxes and imposts; this statute was the subject of much subsequent parliamentary debate at the regional level, as local leaders sought to defend this regional autonomy and privilege from the state's assaults.