Aquitaine

The modern region of Aquitaine is roughly coextensive with the western half of the historical region of the same name. It encompasses the départements of Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques in southwestern France. Conquered by Franks in 507; it was a duchy until 768; made subkingdom by Charlemagne and given to his son Louis 781; to the French crown in 877. It became a powerful feudal duchy controlling most of France south of Loire by the 11th century. Passed to Capetians in 1137, to the English in 1152.