User:Coldstreamer20/Provinces of France and their successor department

Background[edit]

National Constituent Assembly adopted a more uniform division into departments (départements) and districts in late 1789.^[1] The provinces continued to exist administratively until 21 September 1791.^[1]

The provinces of France were roughly equivalent to the historic counties of England. They came into their final form over the course of many hundreds of years, as many dozens of semi-independent fiefs and former independent countries came to be incorporated into the French royal domain. Because of the manner in which the provinces evolved, each had its own sets of feudal traditions, laws, taxation systems and courts; the system represented an impediment to effective administration of the entire country from Paris. During the early years of the French Revolution, in an attempt to centralise the administration of the whole country and to remove the influence of the French nobility over the country, the entirety of the province system was abolished and replaced by the system of departments in use today.

In some cases, several modern regions or departments share names with the historic provinces; their borders may cover roughly the same territory.

List of Provinces and their successor departments[edit]

Below is a list of the provinces (really Military Districts (Governments)) of France before the revolution. These "provinces' were called governments (gouvernements) and administered by a Military Governor appointed by the King to oversee military matters. For administrative purposes, these provinces correlated directly to the old duchies, counties, provinces, and regions, thus making them the continuation of the former. The old regions had two options (three in reality): Union into the Kingdom (ie: becoming part of the Kingdom as a province), Union of their title into the Royal Domain (ie: keeping their old name and becoming an integral part of the Kingdom, examples would be the Duchy (Dukes) of Anjou or Count (County) of Artois), and the third being a "dependency", or another words unofficially an independent state which relies on the Kingdom of France for all needs.

The below list will include all former governments with their location within the 1789 boundaries of France, any sub-regions, their date of establishment (ie: the year the region was incorporated into the Kingdom), the Governmental Seat (Capital), any relevant information, successor departments, and those communes which were part of the province but did not form part of a full department. Each government also included a "Class (1st or 2nd)", the 1st class being those major regions where the governor was allocated 60,000 livres, or the 2nd class being the minor regions where the governor was allocated 30,000 livres.

Pre-1789									Departments
Number (on map)	Coat of Arms	Reignal Name	Type of Region	Sub-Elements	Map	Establishment/Incorporation date^[a]	Capital	Information	Successor(s)^[b]	Map
Duchies
#15		Duchy of Anjou	Duchy			1482	Angers	Created in 1482	Deux-Sèvres (Following communes only: Saint-Pierre-des-Échaubrognes and Marnes) Indre-et-Loire (Following communes only: Avrillé-les-Ponceaux, Benais, Bourgueil, Braye-sur-Maulne, Channay-sur-Lathan, La Chapelle-sur-Loire, Continvoir, Couesmes, Courcelles-de-Touraine, Gizeux, Hommes, Lublé, Marcilly-sur-Maulne, Restigné, Rillé, Saint-Laurent-de-Lin, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Savigné-sur-Lathan, Villiers-au-Bouin, Assay, Braslou, Braye-sous-Faye, Champigny-sur-Veude, Chaveignes, Courcoué, Faye-la-Vineuse, Jaulnay. Marçay, Razines, Richelieu, and Luzé) Loire-Atlantique (Only the commune of La Boissière-du-Doré) Maine-et-Loire Mayenne (Following communes only: Ampoigné, Argenton-Notre-Dame, Athée, Azé, Ballots, Bierné, La Boissière, Bouchamps-lès-Craon, Brains-sur-les-Marches, La Chapelle-Craonnaise, Château-Gontier, Châtelain, Chemazé, Chérancé, Congrier, Cosmes, Cossé-le-Vivien, Coudray, Craon, Cuillé, Daon, Denazé, Entrammes, Fontaine-Couverte, Fromentières, Gastines, Gennes-sur-Glaize, Grez-en-Bouère, Houssay, Laigné, Laubrières, Livré-la-Touche, Loigné-sur-Mayenne, Longuefuye, Maisoncelles-du-Maine, Marigné-Peuton, Mée, Ménil, Méral, Niafles, Nuillé-sur-Vicoin, Origné, Peuton, Pommerieux, Quelaines-Saint-Gault, Renazé, La Roë, La Rouaudière, Ruillé-Froid-Fonds, Saint-Aignan-sur-Roë, Saint-Denis-d'Anjou, Saint-Erblon, Saint-Fort, Saint-Laurent-des-Mortiers, Saint-Martin-du-Limet, Saint-Michel-de-Feins, Saint-Michel-de-la-Roë, Saint-Poix, Saint-Quentin-les-Anges, Saint-Saturnin-du-Limet, Saint-Sulpice, La Selle-Craonnaise, Senonnes, Simplé, and Villiers-Charlemagne) Sarthe (Following communes only: Pincé, Arthezé, Le Bailleul, Bazouges-sur-le-Loir, Boussès, La Bruère-sur-Loir, La Chapelle-aux-Choux, La Chapelle-d'Aligné, Chenu, Courtillers, Cré-sur-Loir, Crosmières, Dissé-sous-le-Lude, Dureil, La Flèche, Louailles, Le Lude, Parcé-sur-Sarthe, Notre-Dame-du-Pé, Précigné, Saint-Germain-d'Arcé, Savigné-sous-le-Lude, Thorée-les-Pins, Vaas, Villaines-sous-Malicorne, and Vion) Vienne (Following communes only: Amberre, Angliers, Arçay, Aulnay, Basses, Berrie, Berthegon, Beuxes, Blaslay, Bournand, Ceaux-en-Loudun, Chalais, Champigny-le-Sec, La Chaussée, Cherves, Chouppes, La Roche-Rigault, Coussay, Craon, Cuhon, Curçay-sur-Dive, Dercé, Glénouze, La Grimaudière, Guesnes, Loudun, Maisonneuve, Martaizé, Massognes, Maulay, Mazeuil, Messemé, Mirebeau, Moncontour, Monts-sur-Guesnes, Morton, Mouterre-Silly, Nueil-sous-Faye, Pouançay, Pouant, Prinçay, Ranton, Raslay, Roiffé, Saint-Clair, Saint-Jean-de-Sauves, Saint-Laon, Saint-Léger-de-Montbrillais, Saires, Saix, Sammarçolles, Savigny-sous-Faye, Ternay, Thurageau, Les Trois-Moutiers, Varennes, Verrue, Vézières, and Vouzailles)
#12		Combined Government of Guyenne and Gascony	Duchy	Duchy of Guyenne (Guiana)		1453	Bordeaux	Combined for administrative purposes in the 17th century. Split into two separate duchies in 1789, but continued as a combined authority.	Gironde Dordogne Lot-et-Garonne Lot Aveyron
#12		Combined Government of Guyenne and Gascony	Duchy	Duchy of Gascony (Gasconha, Gascunya)		1453	Auch		Ariège (Following communes only: Aleu, Alos, Antras, Argein, Arrien-en-Bethmale, Arrout, Aucazein, Audressein, Augirein, Aulus-les-Bains, Bagert, Balacet, Balaguères, Barjac, La Bastide-du-Salat, Bédeille, Betchat, Bethmale, Biert, Bonac-Irazein, Les Bordes-sur-Lez, Boussenac, Buzan, Castillon-en-Couserans, Caumont, Cazavet, Cérizols, Cescau, Contrazy, Couflens, Encourtiech, Engomer, Ercé, Erp, Eycheil, Fabas, Gajan, Galey, Illartein, Lacave, Lacourt, Lasserre, Lescure, Massat, Mauvezin-de-Prat, Mauvezin-de-Sainte-Croix, Mercenac, Mérigon, Montardit, Montégut-en-Couserans, Montesquieu-Avantès, Montgauch, Montjoie-en-Couserans, Moulis, Orgibet,, Oust, Le Port, Prat-Bonrepaux, Rimont, Rivèrenert, Sainte-Croix-Volvestre, Saint-Girons, Saint-Jean-du-Castillonnais, Saint-Lary, Saint-Lizier, Salsein, Seix, Lorp-Sentaraille, Sentein, Sentenac-d'Oust, Sor, Soueix-Rogalle, Soulan, Taurignan-Castet, Taurignan-Vieux, Tourtouse, Uchentein, Ustou, and Villeneuve) Gers Gironde (Following communes only: Aillas, Andernos-les-Bains, Arès, Aubiac, Audenge, Auros, Balizac, Barie, Le Barp, Bassanne, Bazas, Belin-Béliet, Berthez, Bieujac, Biganos, Birac, Blaignac, Bourideys, Brannens, Brouqueyran, Captieux, Castets-en-Dorthe, Castillon-de-Castets, Cauvignac, Cazalis, Cazats, Coimères, Cours-les-Bains, Cudos, Escaudes, Floudès, Fontet, Gajac, Gans, Giscos, Goualade, Grignols, Guillos, Gujan-Mestras, Hostens, Hure, Labescau, Lados, Landiras, Langon, Lanton, Lartigue, Lavazan, Lège-Cap-Ferret, Lerm-et-Musset, Lignan-de-Bazas, Louchats, Loupiac-de-la-Réole, Lucmau, Lugos, Marimbault, Marions, Masseilles, Mazères, Mios, Le Nizan, Noaillac, Origne, Porchères, Pondaurat, Le Porge, Puybarban, Saint-Côme, Saint-Léger-de-Balson, Saint-Loubert, Saint-Michel-de-Castelnau, Saint-Michel-de-Rieufret, Saint-Pierre-de-Mons, Saint-Symphorien, Salles, Saucats, Sauviac, Savignac, Sendets, Sigalens, Sillas, Le Teich, La Teste-de-Buch, Le Tuzan, Uzeste, and Marcheprime.) Haute-Garonne (Following communes only: Agassac, Alan, Ambax, Anan, Antichan-de-Frontignes, Antignac, Arbas, Arbon, Ardiège, Arguenos, Argut-Dessous, Arlos, Arnaud-Guilhem, Artigue, Aspet, Aspret-Sarrat, Aulon, Aurignac, Ausseing, Ausson, Auzas, Bachas, Bachos, Bagiry, Bagnères-de-Luchon, Balesta, Barbazan, Baren, Beauchalot, Beaufort, Belbèze-en-Comminges, Bellegarde-Sainte-Marie, Bellesserre, Benque, Benque-Dessous-et-Dessus, Bezins-Garraux, Billière, Blajan, Bois-de-la-Pierre, Boissède, Bonrepos-sur-Aussonnelle, Bordes-de-Rivière, Boudrac, Boulogne-sur-Gesse, Bourg-d'Oueil, Boussan, Boussens, Boutx, Bouzin, Bragayrac, Bretx, Brignemont, Burgalays, Le Burgaud, Cabanac-Cazaux, Cabanac-Séguenville, Cadours, Cambernard, Cardeilhac, Cassagnabère-Tournas, Cassagne, Castagnède, Castelbiague, Castelgaillard, Castelnau-Picampeau, Le Castéra, Castéra-Vignoles, Casties-Labrande, Castillon-de-Larboust, Castillon-de-Saint-Martory, Cathervielle, Caubiac, Caubous, Cazarilh-Laspènes, Cazaril-Tambourès, Cazaunous, Cazaux-Layrisse, Cazeaux-de-Larboust, Cazeneuve-Montaut, Cirès, Cazères, Charlas, Chaum, Chein-Dessus, Ciadoux, Cier-de-Luchon, Cier-de-Rivière, Cier-de-Rivière, Cierp-Gaud, Clarac, Coueilles, Couladère, Couret, Cox, Cuguron, Le Cuing, Daux, Drudas, Eaunes, Empeaux, Encausse-les-Thermes, Eoux, Escanecrabe, Esparron, Estadens, Eup, Fabas, Le Fauga, Figarol, Fonsorbes, Fontenilles, Forgues, Fos, Fougaron, Francazal, Francon, Franquevielle, Le Fréchet, Fronsac, Frontignan-de-Comminges, Frontignan-Savès, Frouzins, Fustignac, Galié, Ganties, Garac, Garin, Génos, Gensac-de-Boulogne, Gensac-sur-Garonne, Gouaux-de-Larboust, Gouaux-de-Luchon, Goudex – Hautes-Pyrénées (Following communes only: Landes (Following communes only: Lot-et-Garonne (Following communes only: Pyrénées-Atlantiques (Following communes only: Tarn-et-Garonne (Following communes only:
#13		Duchy of Burgundy (Borgoigne, Borgoègne, Bregogne, Borgogne)	Duchy			1477	Dijon	Created as a Captain-Duchy in 1477.	Ain Côte-d'Or Saône-et-Loire Yonne
#34		Duchy of Nivernais (Nivarnois)	Duchy			1789	Nevers	"Dependent on the Kingdom of France" until 1789, and then absorbed into the Kingdom as a Duchy.	Cher (Following communes only: Jouet-sur-l'Aubois, Cours-les-Barres, Torteron, Cuffy, Le Chautay, La Guerche-sur-l'Aubois, Apremont-sur-Allier, and Neuvy-le-Barrois) Nièvre Yonne (Following communes only: Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines, Étais-la-Sauvin, Sainpuits, and Sougères-en-Puisaye)
#4		Duchy of Normandy(Normandie, Normaundie)	Duchy	Perche		1204	Rouen	Duchy of Normandy created in 911 and taken into France in 1204.	Calvados Eure Manche Orne Seine-Maritime
Counties
#17		County of Angoumois (Angoumois, Engolmés)	County			1514	Angoulême	Fife of the old Duchy of Aquitaine, separated on formation of the Duchy of Guyenne in 1514.	Charente Deux-Sèvres (Following communes only: Loubillé, Montalembert, and Valdelaume) Dordogne (Following communes only: Champagne-et-Fontaine, Gout-Rossignol, La Chapelle-Montabourlet, La Roche-Chalais, La Tour-Blanche-Cercles, Parcoul-Chenaud, and Saint-Aulaye-Puymangou) Haute-Vienne (Following communes only: Chéronnac, Cussac, Dournazac, La Chapelle-Montbrandeix, Les Salles-Lavauguyon, Maisonnais-sur-Tardoire, Marval, Oradour-sur-Vayres, Pensol, Saint-Bazile, Saint-Mathieu, Vayres, and Videix)
#28		County of Artois (Artoés, Artesië)	County			1659	Arras	Absorbed into the Kingdom of France in 1659 following the Treaty of the Pyrenees	Pas-de-Calais
#25		County of Auvergne (Auvèrnha)	County			1457	Clermont-Ferrand	Formed in 1457 by splitting the Merovingian county of the Duchy of Aquitaine, also Carolingian part.	Allier (Following communes only: Abrest, Barberier, Bayet, Bègues, Bellenaves, Busset, Cesset, Chantelle, Chareil-Cintrat, Charroux, Chezelle, Chirat-l'Église, Chouvigny, Coutansouze, Cusset, Deneuille-lès-Chantelle, Ébreuil, Échassières, Étroussat, Fleuriel, Fourilles, Hauterive, Jenzat, Lalizolle, Loriges, Louchy-Montfand, Louroux-de-Bouble, Marcillat-en-Combraille, Mariol, Monestier, Montord, Nades, Naves, Paray-sous-Briailles, Saint-Bonnet-de-Rochefort, Saint-Christophe, Saint-Didier-la-Forêt, Saint-Fargeol, Saint-Germain-de-Salles, Saint-Marcel-en-Marcillat, Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, Saint-Yorre, Sussat, Target, Taxat-Senat, Le Theil, Ussel-d'Allier, Valignat, Veauce, Le Vernet, Vicq, and Voussac) Cantal Haute-Loire (Following communes only: Agnat, Allègre, Ally, Arlet, Aubazat, Vissac-Auteyrac, Autrac, Auzon, Azérat, Beaumont, Beaune-sur-Arzon, Bellevue-la-Montagne, Berbezit, Blassac, Blesle, Bonneval, Bournoncle-Saint-Pierre, Brioude, Céaux-d'Allègre, Cerzat, La Chaise-Dieu, Chambezon, Champagnac-le-Vieux, Chaniat, Chanteuges, La Chapelle-Geneste, Charraix, Chassagnes, Chassignolles, Chastel, Chavaniac-Lafayette, Chazelles, Chilhac, Chomelix, La Chomette, Cistrières, Cohade, Collat, Connangles, Couteuges, Cronce, Desges, Domeyrat, Espalem, Félines, Ferrussac, Fontannes, Frugerès-les-Mines, Frugières-le-Pin, Grenier-Montgon, Javaugues, Josat, Jullianges, Lamothe, Langeac, Laval-sur-Doulon, Lavaudieu, Lavoûte-Chilhac, Lempdes-sur-Allagnon, Léotoing, Lorlanges, Lubilhac, Malvières, Mazerat-Aurouze, Mazeyrat-d'Allier, Mercœur, Monlet, Montclard, Paulhac, Paulhaguet, Pébrac, Pinols, Prades, Saint-Arcons-d'Allier, Saint-Austremoine, Saint-Beauzire, Saint-Cirgues, Saint-Didier-sur-Doulon, Saint-Étienne-sur-Blesle, Sainte-Eugénie-de-Villeneuve, Sainte-Florine, Saint-Geneys-près-Saint-Paulien, Saint-Georges-d'Aurac, Saint-Géron, Saint-Hilaire, Saint-Ilpize, Saint-Jean-d'Aubrigoux, Saint-Julien-des-Chazes, Saint-Just-près-Brioude, Saint-Laurent-Chabreuges, Sainte-Marguerite, Saint-Pal-de-Senouire, Saint-Paulien, Saint-Préjet-Armandon, Saint-Privat-du-Dragon, Saint-Vert, Saint-Victor-sur-Arlanc, Salzuit, Sembadel, Siaugues-Sainte-Marie, Tailhac, Torsiac, Vals-le-Chastel, Vergongheon, Vézézoux, Vieille-Brioude, and Villeneuve-d'Allier) Puy-de-Dôme

Footnotes[edit]

Notes[edit]

^ The use of "establishment" in English doesn't directly translate from French. The closest translation of the French term would be "Integration", ie: when the County/Province was integrated into the "French Crown", or another-words joined the Kingdom of France.
^ When the new departments were created, many provinces had several departments within their old boundaries. Many however had several communes which formed part of other departments which were not completely within said province. Where this applies, the use of "(Following communes only:)" will be added for those communes within the old province, but part of a department not entirely within the old province.

Citations[edit]

^ ^a ^b Legay, Marie-Laure (2003). "La fin du pouvoir provincial (4 août 1789-21 septembre 1791)". Annales historiques de la Révolution française (332): 25–53. doi:10.4000/ahrf.821. ISSN 0003-4436.

References[edit]

[2] The use of "establishment" in English doesn't directly translate from French. The closest translation of the French term would be "Integration", ie: when the County/Province was integrated into the "French Crown", or another-words joined the Kingdom of France.

[3] When the new departments were created, many provinces had several departments within their old boundaries. Many however had several communes which formed part of other departments which were not completely within said province. Where this applies, the use of "(Following communes only:)" will be added for those communes within the old province, but part of a department not entirely within the old province.

[Legay-1] Legay, Marie-Laure (2003). "La fin du pouvoir provincial (4 août 1789-21 septembre 1791)". Annales historiques de la Révolution française (332): 25–53. doi:10.4000/ahrf.821. ISSN 0003-4436.

[1]

[a]

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