Dauphiné
Encyclopedia
The Dauphiné or Dauphiné Viennois is a former province
in southeastern France
, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of :Isère, :Drôme, and :Hautes-Alpes.
The Dauphiné (also called Dauphiny in ancient English) was an independent state from 1040 to 1349, under the rule of the Counts of Albon, before joining the Kingdom of France. As a French province, it maintained its autonomy until 1457.
The historical capital is Grenoble
and the other main towns are Vienne
, Valence
, Montélimar
, Gap
and Romans-sur-Isère
.
Its inhabitants are called Dauphinois (male) or Dauphinoises (female).
Le Dauphiné Libéré
is a famous regional French newspaper, and organized the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (now known as the Critérium du Dauphiné) cycle stage race prior to 2010.
("Brêsse") and Bugey
("Bugê"). To the east it bordered the Savoy
and Piedmont
, and to the south the Comtat Venaissin
and Provence
. The western border was marked by the Rhône to the south of Lyon
. The Dauphiné extended up to what is now the centre of Lyon.
Grenoble
has been the capital of the Dauphiné since the 11th century.
It was divided into the "High Dauphiné" and "Low Dauphiné".
The first covered:
The second included:
The province also included the current Italian Dauphiné, which belonged to France and to Briançonnais until 1713. French was still spoken there until the 20th century:
The province offers a range of terrain, from the alpine summits of the High-Dauphiné (the Barre des Ecrins
is 4,102 meters at its highest point), the Prealps (Vercors and Chartreuse
), and the plains of the Drôme, which resemble the landscapes of Provence.
and other Gaulish
tribes in ancient times. The region was conquered by the Romans before Gallia
conquest by Julius Caesar
. Vienne
became a Roman colony and one of the most important cities of Gallia.
After the end of the Western Roman Empire
, the region suffered from invasions of Visigoths and Alans
tribes. The Burgundians
settled in Vienne. After the Treaty of Verdun
in 843, the region became part of the kingdom of Lotharingia
. However, the King of France Charles the Bald
soon claimed authority over this territory.
The governor of Vienne, Boson of Provence, proclaimed himself king of Burgundy and the region became part of the Kingdom of Arelat, which remained independent until 1032, when it became part of the Holy Roman Empire
.
At that time, the development of feudal society and the weakness of the Emperor's rule allowed for the creation of several small ecclesiastic or secularist States (the region of Viennois, for example, was under the rule of the archbishop of Vienne). In the middle of that chaos, the Counts of Albon succeeded in uniting these different territories under their rule.
Amidst the chaos of feudal rule, the Counts of Albon began to rise above other feudal lords and acquire dominance over the region. Their story begins with Guigues I
the Old (died 1070), Lord of Annonay
and Champsaur. During his reign, he gained significant territories for his province: a part of the Viennois, the Grésivaudan
and the Oisans. Moreover, the Emperor gave him the region of Briançon. The territories combined under his personal rule became a sovereign mountain principality within the Holy Roman Empire. The count made a significant decision when he chose the small city of Grenoble as capital of his state instead of the prestigious city of Vienne, which was the long-established seat of a powerful bishop. This choice allowed him to assert authority over all his territories.
In the 12th century, the local ruler Count Guigues IV of Albon (c.1095–1142) bore 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. The state took the name of Dauphiné.
However, the Dauphiné did not, at this point, have its modern borders. The region of Vienne and Valence were independent and even in Grenoble, the capital, the authority was shared with the bishop. Furthermore, the cities of Voiron and la Côte-Saint-André were parts of the County of Savoy
, while the Dauphins had the Faucigny and territories in Italy. This tangle between Dauphiné and Savoy resulted in several conflicts. The last Dauphin, Humbert II of Viennois
, made peace with his neighbour. He also acquired the city of Romans. He finally created the Conseil Delphinal and the University of Grenoble
and enacted the Delphinal Status, a kind of constitution that protected the rights of his people.
in 1349, by the terms of the treaty of Romans, negotiated by his protonotary, Amblard de Beaumont. A major condition was that the heir to the throne of France would be known as le Dauphin, which was the case from that time until the French Revolution; the first Dauphin de France was Philippe's grandson, the future Charles V of France
. The title also conferred an appanage
on the region. Charles V spent nine months in his new territory.
Humbert's agreement further stipulated that Dauphiné would be exempted from many taxes (like the gabelle
); 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.
(1356) and Agincourt
(1415). The province was also the setting for military events during the war. The Duke of Savoy and the Prince of Orange
, with the help of the English and Burgundians authorities, planned to invade the Dauphiné, but at the battle of Anthon in 1430, the army of the Principality of Orange was defeated by the troops of the Dauphiné, preventing the invasion.
Louis XI was the only Dauphin of France to administer his territory, from 1447 to 1456. It was during his reign as Dauphin that the Dauphiné became totally integrated into France. At that time, it was an anarchic state, with conflicts between nobles still common. Louis XI prohibited these conflicts and forced the nobles to recognize his authority. The Conseil Delphinal became the third Parlement
of France. Moreover, Louis XI politically united the Dauphiné. He forced the archbishop of Vienne, the bishop of Grenoble and the Abbot of Romans all to pledge allegiance to him. He also acquired Montélimar and the Principality of Orange
.
In addition, he developed the economy of the province, by constructing roads and authorizing markets. He finally created the University of Valence
founded 26 July 1452, by letters patent. Nevertheless, he also tried to institute the gabelle without referring the issue to the estates of the province, resulting in discontent on the part of the nobility and the people of the province.
Because of his opposition to his father, Charles VII
, he was forced to leave the Dauphiné. The King took back the control of the province and forced the Estates to pledge allegiance in 1457, putting an end to the autonomy of Dauphiné.
During the Italian Wars
(1494–1559), French troops were quartered in Dauphiné. Charles VIII
, Louis XII and Francis I
stayed often in Grenoble, but the people of the province suffered the exactions of the soldiers. Moreover, the nobility of the region took part in the different battles (Marignano
, Pavia
) and gained an immense prestige. The best-known of its members was Bayard
, "the knight without fear and beyond reproach".
The province suffered from the French Wars of Religion
(1562–98) between Catholics and Protestants at the end of the 16th century. The Dauphiné was a high place of Protestantism in France, in cities like Gap, Die or La Mure. François de Beaumont
, the Huguenot leader, became famous for his cruelty and his destructions. The cathedrals and churches suffered from its exactions.
The cruel execution of Charles du Puy-Montbrun, leader of Protestants by the king of France, led to more violence and struggles between the two parties.
In 1575, Lesdiguières
became the new leader of the Protestants and obtained several territories in the province. After the accession of Henry IV
at the throne of France, Lesdiguières allied with the governor and the lieutenant general of Dauphiné. However, this alliance did not put an end to the conflicts. Indeed, a Catholic movement, la Ligue, which took Grenoble in 1590, refused to make peace. After months of assaults, Lesdiguières defeated the Ligue and took back Grenoble. He became the leader of the entire province.
(1598) restored some civil rights to the Huguenots and brought peace for a short time, but the wars resumed soon afterward.
Lesdiguières defeated several time the army of Savoy and helped the reconstruction of the region. His most famous inherit is the Palace of Vizille
, constructed for his personal use.
The last meeting of the Estates of Dauphiné took place in 1628. It symbolizes the end of the liberty of the province. From that time, the important decisions were taken by the representatives of the King. It shows the progress of Absolutism
.
In 1692, during the Nine Years' War, the Duke of Savoy invaded the Dauphiné. Gap and Embrun were badly damaged. But they were defeated by Philis de la Charce.
In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht
changed the borders of Dauphiné. The province gained the town of Barcelonette but lost the major part of the Briançonnais.
The 18th century was a period of economic prosperity for the region, with the development of the industry (glove-making of Grenoble, silk mills in the Rhône valley). Important trade shows also occurred at Grenoble or Beaucroissant.
In 1787, the province was one of the first to demand the meeting of the Estates General
of France. The turning point occurred in 1788 with the Day of the Tiles
. The King ordered the expulsion of the parliamentarians from Grenoble. But the economy of the city was dependant of its Parliament. As a result, the people attacked the royal troops to prevent the expulsion of the magistrates. This event allowed the sitting of the Assembly of Vizille
. Its members obtained the meeting of the old Estates General, beginning thus the Revolution.
, Dauphiné was highly represented in Paris by two illustrious notables from Grenoble, Jean Joseph Mounier
and Antoine Barnave
.
In 1790, Dauphiné was divided in 3 departments, the current Isère
, Drôme and Hautes-Alpes
.
The approval of the establishment of the Empire
was clear and overwhelming (in Isère, the results showed 82,084 yes and only 12 no).
In 1813, Dauphiné was under the threat of the Austrian army which invaded Switzerland
and Savoy. After having resisted at Fort Barraux, the French troops withdrew at Grenoble. The city, well-defended, contained the Austrian attacks and the French army defeated the Austrians, forcing them to withdraw at Geneva
. But the invasion of France
in 1814 resulted in the capitulation of the troops in Dauphiné.
During his return
from the island of Elba
in 1815, the Emperor was welcomed by the people in the Hautes-Alpes. At Laffrey
, he met the royalist 5th Infantry Regiment of Louis XVIII. Napoleon stepped towards the soldiers and said those famous words: "If there is among you a soldier who wants to kill his Emperor, here I am ". The men all joined his cause. Napoleon was then acclaimed at Grenoble. After the defeat of Waterloo
, the region suffered from a new invasion of the Austrians and Sardinians troops.
at that time) and the Rhone Valley (silk mills). The industry of shoes also developed in Romans.
During the Second Empire
, the Dauphiné saw the construction of its railway network (the first trains arrived at Valence in 1854 and at Grenoble in 1858). The driving of new roads in the Vercors and Chartreuse rangers allowed the beginning of tourism in the province. Moreover, several notable persons such as Queen Victoria came in the region with the success of thermal stations such as Uriage-les-Bains
.
In 1869, Aristide Berges played a major role in industrializing hydroelectricity production. With the development of his paper mills, he permitted industrial development of mountainous region of Dauphiné.
, the region benefited from major transformations thanks to its economic growth. The Romanche Valley became one of the most important industrial valleys of the country. World War I accelerated that trend. Indeed, in order to sustain the war efforts, new hydroelectric industries settled next to different rivers of the region. Several other businesses moved into armament industries. Chemical companies also settled in the region of Grenoble and near Roussillon in the Rhone Valley.
The textile industry
of Dauphiné also benefited from the war. The occupation of northern France resulted in the settlement of many textile enterprises in the region. Vienne for instance produced in 1915 one fifth of the national production of sheets for the army.
Several Alpine troops, the Chasseurs Alpins, were killed at war. They were nicknamed the "Blue Devils" for their courage on the field.
The economic development of the region was highlighted by the organisation at Grenoble of the International Exposition of the "Houille Blanche" in 1925, visited by thousands of people.
The interwar period
was also characterized by the beginning of the winter sports in Dauphiné. The ski resort of l'Alpe d'Huez
was constructed in 1936 and Jean Pomagalski created there the first platter lift in the world.
During World War II
, at the Battle of the Alps, the Chasseurs Alpins contained the Italian troops, preventing an invasion of the region. But the German victories in northern France quickly threatened the troops in Dauphiné. The Nazis were stopped near Grenoble, at Voreppe
. The French forces resisted until the armistice. The Dauphiné was then part of the French State
, before knowing the Italian occupation from 1942 to 1943, when the German occupied southern France.
Due to its mountainous character, Dauphiné was the seat of strong partisan
activity. The better-known was the Maquis du Vercors
. In 1944, its members suffered from German attacks. The martyr village of Vassieux
was made Compagnon de la Libération by General Charles de Gaulle
, as long as Grenoble to underline their actions against the Nazis.
In 1968, Grenoble welcomed the Xth Olympic Winter Games
, allowing a major transformation of the city, the development of infrastructures (airport, motorways…) and new ski resorts (Chamrousse
, Les Deux Alpes
, Villard de Lans…).
These days, all the territories benefit from an increase of population because of economic development and tourism.
There were a relative stability of the population of Dauphiné until the mid-20th century, when the growth became extremely stronger. It must be reminded nonetheless that several cities of northern Dauphiné (Villeurbanne
, Vénissieux
, Bron
and many others) had been included in the department of Rhône
. These cities represented in 1999 more than 460,000 inhabitants.
Histogram of the evolution since 1801:
Dauphiné has a density of 90,78 hab / km² with a very clear difference between Isère (159 hab / km²) and Hautes-Alpes (23 hab / km²).
Grenoble concentrates around the third of the population of Dauphiné. Valence is now the second big Dauphiné metropolis. Dauphiné also benefits from an important network of mid-sized cities covering all the territory (Vienne, Montélimar, Gap...).
The aires urbaines
of Dauphiné are:
Dauphiné is famous for some culinary specialities:
... and for some products of its terroir
:
Provinces of France
The Kingdom of France was organised into provinces until March 4, 1790, when the establishment of the département system superseded provinces. The provinces of France were roughly equivalent to the historic counties of England...
in southeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of :Isère, :Drôme, and :Hautes-Alpes.
The Dauphiné (also called Dauphiny in ancient English) was an independent state from 1040 to 1349, under the rule of the Counts of Albon, before joining the Kingdom of France. As a French province, it maintained its autonomy until 1457.
The historical capital is Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
and the other main towns are Vienne
Vienne, Isère
Vienne is a commune in south-eastern France, located south of Lyon, on the Rhône River. It is the second largest city after Grenoble in the Isère department, of which it is a subprefecture. The city's population was of 29,400 as of the 2001 census....
, Valence
Valence, Drôme
Valence is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Drôme department, situated on the left bank of the Rhône, south of Lyon on the railway to Marseilles.Its inhabitants are called Valentinois...
, Montélimar
Montélimar
Montélimar is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. It is the second-largest town in the department after Valence.-History:...
, Gap
Gap, Hautes-Alpes
Gap is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Hautes-Alpes department.-Geography:An Alpine crossroads at the intersection of D994 and Route nationale 85 the Route Napoléon, Gap lies above sea level along the right bank of the Luye River...
and Romans-sur-Isère
Romans-sur-Isère
Romans-sur-Isère or Romans is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Geography:...
.
Its inhabitants are called Dauphinois (male) or Dauphinoises (female).
Le Dauphiné Libéré
Le Dauphiné Libéré
Le Dauphiné Libéré is a provincial daily French newspaper known for its emphasis on local news and events.The paper is produced in 24 different editions covering events in eight French departments, mainly in the region Rhône-Alpes:*Ain...
is a famous regional French newspaper, and organized the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (now known as the Critérium du Dauphiné) cycle stage race prior to 2010.
Geography
Under the Ancien Régime, the province was bordered in the North by the River Rhône which separated the Dauphiné from the BresseBresse
Bresse is a former French province. It is located in the regions of Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne, and Franche-Comté of eastern France. The geographical term Bresse has two meanings: Bresse bourguignonne , which is situated in the east of the department of Saône-et-Loire, and Bresse, which is located...
("Brêsse") and Bugey
Bugey
The Bugey is a historical region in the département of Ain , France. It is located in a loop of the Rhône River in the southeast of the département...
("Bugê"). To the east it bordered the Savoy
Duchy of Savoy
From 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
and Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
, and to the south the Comtat Venaissin
Comtat Venaissin
The Comtat Venaissin, often called the Comtat for short , is the former name of the region around the city of Avignon in what is now the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. It comprised roughly the area between the Rhône, the Durance and Mont Ventoux, with a small exclave located to the...
and Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
. The western border was marked by the Rhône to the south of Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
. The Dauphiné extended up to what is now the centre of Lyon.
Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
has been the capital of the Dauphiné since the 11th century.
It was divided into the "High Dauphiné" and "Low Dauphiné".
The first covered:
- the GrésivaudanGrésivaudanThe Grésivaudan is a valley of the French Alps, situated mostly in the Isère. Etymologically, Graisivaudan comes from roots meaning "Grenoble" and "valley". It comprises the alluvial plain of the Isère River from Grenoble to the confluence of the Arc; or, more recently, the entire valley of the...
- the Royans
- the Champsaur
- the Trièves
- the BriançonBriançonBriançon a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department....
nais - the QueyrasQueyrasThe Queyras is a valley located in the French Hautes-Alpes, of which the geographical extension is the basin of river Guil, a tributary of the Durance...
- the EmbrunEmbrun, Hautes-AlpesEmbrun is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Description:...
ais - the GapençaisGap, Hautes-AlpesGap is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Hautes-Alpes department.-Geography:An Alpine crossroads at the intersection of D994 and Route nationale 85 the Route Napoléon, Gap lies above sea level along the right bank of the Luye River...
- the Dévoluy
- the Vercors
- the Bochaine
- the BaronniesBaronniesThe Baronnies, in French Les Baronnies is a historic name for the area East and North of Mont Ventoux in Southern France.Today most of the Baronnies is part of the département Drôme...
The second included:
- the County of AlbonAlbon, DrômeAlbon is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
with the Viennois around the city of Vienne, annexed in 1450 and the Turripinois around the city of La Tour-du-PinLa Tour-du-PinLa Tour-du-Pin is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Bourbre flows westward through the southern part of the commune and crosses the town.-References:*...
. - the County of Valentinois with the city of Valence, annexed in 1404
- the County of Diois, around the episcopal city of Die, also annexed in 1404
- the TricastinTricastinThe Tricastin is an area around Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux in Provence, France. The name derives from the Gaulish tribe Tricastini, which was part of the confederation of the Cavares...
- the Principality of OrangePrincipality of OrangeThe Principality of Orange was a feudal state in Provence, in the south of modern-day France, on the left bank of the River Rhone north of the city of Avignon....
annexed to Dauphiné, (in 1793 it was included in the VaucluseVaucluseThe Vaucluse is a department in the southeast of France, named after the famous spring, the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.- History :Vaucluse was created on 12 August 1793 out of parts of the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône, Drôme, and Basses-Alpes...
)
The province also included the current Italian Dauphiné, which belonged to France and to Briançonnais until 1713. French was still spoken there until the 20th century:
- the Oulx valleyOulxOulx is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km west of Turin, in the Susa Valley on the border with France.-Names:...
- the Pragela (PragelatoPragelatoPragelato is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km west of Turin, in the upper Val Chisone. The name Pragelato, meaning ‘icy meadow’, has been derived from the harsh climate and the fact that the ground is covered with ice for long periods...
et Val Chisone) - the Castelade de Châteaudauphin (CasteldelfinoCasteldelfinoCasteldelfino is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km southwest of Turin and about 45 km northwest of Cuneo...
in Italian).
The province offers a range of terrain, from the alpine summits of the High-Dauphiné (the Barre des Ecrins
Barre des Écrins
The Barre des Écrins is a mountain in the French Alps, the highest point of the Massif des Écrins, and the most southerly alpine peak in Europe that is higher than 4,000 metres.- Geography :...
is 4,102 meters at its highest point), the Prealps (Vercors and Chartreuse
Chartreuse Mountains
The Chartreuse Mountains is a mountain range in eastern France, stretching to the north from the city of Grenoble to the Lac du Bourget. It is the southernmost range in the Jura Mountains and belongs to the French Prealps....
), and the plains of the Drôme, which resemble the landscapes of Provence.
History
Roman rule and the early Middle Ages
The area of the future Dauphiné was inhabited by the AllobrogesAllobroges
The Allobroges were a Celtic tribe of ancient Gaul, located between the Rhône River and the Lake of Geneva in what later became Savoy, Dauphiné, and Vivarais. Their cities were in the areas of modern-day Annecy, Chambéry and Grenoble, the modern of Isère, and modern Switzerland...
and other Gaulish
Gauls
The Gauls were a Celtic people living in Gaul, the region roughly corresponding to what is now France, Belgium, Switzerland and Northern Italy, from the Iron Age through the Roman period. They mostly spoke the Continental Celtic language called Gaulish....
tribes in ancient times. The region was conquered by the Romans before Gallia
Gallia
Gallia may refer to:*Gaul , the region of Western Europe occupied by present-day France, Belgium and other neighbouring countries...
conquest by Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
. Vienne
Vienne, Isère
Vienne is a commune in south-eastern France, located south of Lyon, on the Rhône River. It is the second largest city after Grenoble in the Isère department, of which it is a subprefecture. The city's population was of 29,400 as of the 2001 census....
became a Roman colony and one of the most important cities of Gallia.
After the end of the Western Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
, the region suffered from invasions of Visigoths and Alans
Alans
The Alans, or the Alani, occasionally termed Alauni or Halani, were a group of Sarmatian tribes, nomadic pastoralists of the 1st millennium AD who spoke an Eastern Iranian language which derived from Scytho-Sarmatian and which in turn evolved into modern Ossetian.-Name:The various forms of Alan —...
tribes. The Burgundians
Burgundians
The Burgundians were an East Germanic tribe which may have emigrated from mainland Scandinavia to the island of Bornholm, whose old form in Old Norse still was Burgundarholmr , and from there to mainland Europe...
settled in Vienne. After the Treaty of Verdun
Treaty of Verdun
The Treaty of Verdun was a treaty between the three surviving sons of Louis the Pious, the son and successor of Charlemagne, which divided the Carolingian Empire into three kingdoms...
in 843, the region became part of the kingdom of Lotharingia
Lotharingia
Lotharingia was a region in northwest Europe, comprising the Low Countries, the western Rhineland, the lands today on the border between France and Germany, and what is now western Switzerland. It was born of the tripartite division in 855, of the kingdom of Middle Francia, itself formed of the...
. However, the King of France Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald , Holy Roman Emperor and King of West Francia , was the youngest son of the Emperor Louis the Pious by his second wife Judith.-Struggle against his brothers:He was born on 13 June 823 in Frankfurt, when his elder...
soon claimed authority over this territory.
The governor of Vienne, Boson of Provence, proclaimed himself king of Burgundy and the region became part of the Kingdom of Arelat, which remained independent until 1032, when it became part of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
.
At that time, the development of feudal society and the weakness of the Emperor's rule allowed for the creation of several small ecclesiastic or secularist States (the region of Viennois, for example, was under the rule of the archbishop of Vienne). In the middle of that chaos, the Counts of Albon succeeded in uniting these different territories under their rule.
The independent state (1040—1349)
Guigues I of Albon
Guigues I Levieux, Vetus Veteris , known as "Dauphin" , was Count of Oisans, Grésivaudan, and Briançonnais...
the Old (died 1070), Lord of Annonay
Annonay
Annonay is a commune in the north of the Ardèche department in the Rhône-Alpes region in southern France. It is the most populous commune in the Ardèche department, although it is not the capital, which resides in the smaller town of Privas.-Geography:...
and Champsaur. During his reign, he gained significant territories for his province: a part of the Viennois, the Grésivaudan
Grésivaudan
The Grésivaudan is a valley of the French Alps, situated mostly in the Isère. Etymologically, Graisivaudan comes from roots meaning "Grenoble" and "valley". It comprises the alluvial plain of the Isère River from Grenoble to the confluence of the Arc; or, more recently, the entire valley of the...
and the Oisans. Moreover, the Emperor gave him the region of Briançon. The territories combined under his personal rule became a sovereign mountain principality within the Holy Roman Empire. The count made a significant decision when he chose the small city of Grenoble as capital of his state instead of the prestigious city of Vienne, which was the long-established seat of a powerful bishop. This choice allowed him to assert authority over all his territories.
In the 12th century, the local ruler Count Guigues IV of Albon (c.1095–1142) bore a dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
on his coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
and was nicknamed le Dauphin (French for dolphin). His descendants changed their title from Count of Albon to Dauphin of Viennois. The state took the name of Dauphiné.
However, the Dauphiné did not, at this point, have its modern borders. The region of Vienne and Valence were independent and even in Grenoble, the capital, the authority was shared with the bishop. Furthermore, the cities of Voiron and la Côte-Saint-André were parts of the County of Savoy
County of Savoy
The Counts of Savoy emerged, along with the free communes of Switzerland, from the collapse of the Burgundian Kingdom of Arles in the 11th century....
, while the Dauphins had the Faucigny and territories in Italy. This tangle between Dauphiné and Savoy resulted in several conflicts. The last Dauphin, Humbert II of Viennois
Humbert II of Viennois
Humbert II de la Tour-du-Pin was the Dauphin of the Viennois from 1333 to 16 July 1349. He was a son of the Dauphin John II and Beatrice of Hungary...
, made peace with his neighbour. He also acquired the city of Romans. He finally created the Conseil Delphinal and the University of Grenoble
University of Grenoble
University of Grenoble or Grenoble University was a university in Grenoble, France until 1970, when it was split into several different institutions:...
and enacted the Delphinal Status, a kind of constitution that protected the rights of his people.
Union with France (1349)
The significant debts of Humbert II and the death of his son and heir led to the sale of his lordship to King Philip VIPhilip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
in 1349, by the terms of the treaty of Romans, negotiated by his protonotary, Amblard de Beaumont. A major condition was that the heir to the throne of France would be known as le Dauphin, which was the case from that time until the French Revolution; the first Dauphin de France was Philippe's grandson, the future Charles V of France
Charles V of France
Charles V , called the Wise, was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380 and a member of the House of Valois...
. The title also conferred an appanage
Appanage
An apanage or appanage or is the grant of an estate, titles, offices, or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture...
on the region. Charles V spent nine months in his new territory.
Humbert's agreement further stipulated that Dauphiné would be exempted from many taxes (like the gabelle
Gabelle
The gabelle was a very unpopular tax on salt in France before 1790. The term gabelle derives from the Italian gabella , itself from the Arabic qabala....
); 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.
Hundred Years' War and Louis XI’s rule
The nobility of the Dauphiné took part in the battles of PoitiersBattle of Poitiers (1356)
The Battle of Poitiers was fought between the Kingdoms of England and France on 19 September 1356 near Poitiers, resulting in the second of the three great English victories of the Hundred Years' War: Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt....
(1356) and Agincourt
Battle of Agincourt
The Battle of Agincourt was a major English victory against a numerically superior French army in the Hundred Years' War. The battle occurred on Friday, 25 October 1415 , near modern-day Azincourt, in northern France...
(1415). The province was also the setting for military events during the war. The Duke of Savoy and the Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
, with the help of the English and Burgundians authorities, planned to invade the Dauphiné, but at the battle of Anthon in 1430, the army of the Principality of Orange was defeated by the troops of the Dauphiné, preventing the invasion.
Louis XI was the only Dauphin of France to administer his territory, from 1447 to 1456. It was during his reign as Dauphin that the Dauphiné became totally integrated into France. At that time, it was an anarchic state, with conflicts between nobles still common. Louis XI prohibited these conflicts and forced the nobles to recognize his authority. The Conseil Delphinal became the third Parlement
Parlement
Parlements were regional legislative bodies in Ancien Régime France.The political institutions of the Parlement in Ancien Régime France developed out of the previous council of the king, the Conseil du roi or curia regis, and consequently had ancient and customary rights of consultation and...
of France. Moreover, Louis XI politically united the Dauphiné. He forced the archbishop of Vienne, the bishop of Grenoble and the Abbot of Romans all to pledge allegiance to him. He also acquired Montélimar and the Principality of Orange
Principality of Orange
The Principality of Orange was a feudal state in Provence, in the south of modern-day France, on the left bank of the River Rhone north of the city of Avignon....
.
In addition, he developed the economy of the province, by constructing roads and authorizing markets. He finally created the University of Valence
University of Valence
The University of Valence was founded 26 July, 1452, by letters patent from the Dauphin Louis, afterwards Louis XI of France, in a move to develop the city of Valence, then part of his domain of Dauphiné. It existed until the French Revolution.-History:...
founded 26 July 1452, by letters patent. Nevertheless, he also tried to institute the gabelle without referring the issue to the estates of the province, resulting in discontent on the part of the nobility and the people of the province.
Because of his opposition to his father, Charles VII
Charles VII of France
Charles VII , called the Victorious or the Well-Served , was King of France from 1422 to his death, though he was initially opposed by Henry VI of England, whose Regent, the Duke of Bedford, ruled much of France including the capital, Paris...
, he was forced to leave the Dauphiné. The King took back the control of the province and forced the Estates to pledge allegiance in 1457, putting an end to the autonomy of Dauphiné.
Time of troubles
Italian Wars
The Italian Wars, often referred to as the Great Italian Wars or the Great Wars of Italy and sometimes as the Habsburg–Valois Wars, were a series of conflicts from 1494 to 1559 that involved, at various times, most of the city-states of Italy, the Papal States, most of the major states of Western...
(1494–1559), French troops were quartered in Dauphiné. Charles VIII
Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII, called the Affable, , was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. Charles was a member of the House of Valois...
, Louis XII and Francis I
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
stayed often in Grenoble, but the people of the province suffered the exactions of the soldiers. Moreover, the nobility of the region took part in the different battles (Marignano
Battle of Marignano
The Battle of Marignano was fought during the phase of the Italian Wars called the War of the League of Cambrai, between France and the Old Swiss Confederacy. It took place on September 13 and 15, 1515, near the town today called Melegnano, 16 km southeast of Milan...
, Pavia
Battle of Pavia
The Battle of Pavia, fought on the morning of 24 February 1525, was the decisive engagement of the Italian War of 1521–26.A Spanish-Imperial army under the nominal command of Charles de Lannoy attacked the French army under the personal command of Francis I of France in the great hunting preserve...
) and gained an immense prestige. The best-known of its members was Bayard
Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard
Pierre Terrail LeVieux, seigneur de Bayard was a French soldier, generally known as the Chevalier de Bayard. Throughout the centuries since his death, he has been known as "the knight without fear and beyond reproach"...
, "the knight without fear and beyond reproach".
The province suffered from the French Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
(1562–98) between Catholics and Protestants at the end of the 16th century. The Dauphiné was a high place of Protestantism in France, in cities like Gap, Die or La Mure. François de Beaumont
François de Beaumont, baron des Adrets
François de Beaumont, baron des Adrets was a Huguenot leader, notorious for his cruelty; he died a Catholic.He was born in 1512 or 1513 at the château of La Frette . During the reign of Henry II of France he served with distinction in the royal army and became colonel of the legions of Dauphiné,...
, the Huguenot leader, became famous for his cruelty and his destructions. The cathedrals and churches suffered from its exactions.
The cruel execution of Charles du Puy-Montbrun, leader of Protestants by the king of France, led to more violence and struggles between the two parties.
In 1575, Lesdiguières
François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières
François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières was soldier of the French Wars of Religion and Constable of France.- Early life :He was born at Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur, to a family of notaries with pretensions to nobility...
became the new leader of the Protestants and obtained several territories in the province. After the accession of Henry IV
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
at the throne of France, Lesdiguières allied with the governor and the lieutenant general of Dauphiné. However, this alliance did not put an end to the conflicts. Indeed, a Catholic movement, la Ligue, which took Grenoble in 1590, refused to make peace. After months of assaults, Lesdiguières defeated the Ligue and took back Grenoble. He became the leader of the entire province.
Administration of Lesdiguières (1591–1626)
The conflicts were over but Dauphiné was destroyed and its people exhausted. The enactment of the Edict of NantesEdict of Nantes
The Edict of Nantes, issued on 13 April 1598, by Henry IV of France, granted the Calvinist Protestants of France substantial rights in a nation still considered essentially Catholic. In the Edict, Henry aimed primarily to promote civil unity...
(1598) restored some civil rights to the Huguenots and brought peace for a short time, but the wars resumed soon afterward.
Lesdiguières defeated several time the army of Savoy and helped the reconstruction of the region. His most famous inherit is the Palace of Vizille
Vizille
Vizille is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.Vizille is home to the Musée de la Révolution Française de Vizille, a rich depository of archival and rare materials devoted to the French Revolution, housed since 1984 in the Château de Vizille, a Monument Historique. The library...
, constructed for his personal use.
The last meeting of the Estates of Dauphiné took place in 1628. It symbolizes the end of the liberty of the province. From that time, the important decisions were taken by the representatives of the King. It shows the progress of Absolutism
Absolutism (European history)
Absolutism or The Age of Absolutism is a historiographical term used to describe a form of monarchical power that is unrestrained by all other institutions, such as churches, legislatures, or social elites...
.
From Louis XIV to the French Revolution
The revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV in 1685 caused the departure of 20,000 Protestants from Dauphiné, weakening the economy of the province. Some valleys lost half of their inhabitants.In 1692, during the Nine Years' War, the Duke of Savoy invaded the Dauphiné. Gap and Embrun were badly damaged. But they were defeated by Philis de la Charce.
In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713...
changed the borders of Dauphiné. The province gained the town of Barcelonette but lost the major part of the Briançonnais.
The 18th century was a period of economic prosperity for the region, with the development of the industry (glove-making of Grenoble, silk mills in the Rhône valley). Important trade shows also occurred at Grenoble or Beaucroissant.
In 1787, the province was one of the first to demand the meeting of the Estates General
Estates-General of 1789
The Estates-General of 1789 was the first meeting since 1614 of the French Estates-General, a general assembly representing the French estates of the realm: the nobility, the Church, and the common people...
of France. The turning point occurred in 1788 with the Day of the Tiles
Day of the Tiles
The Day of the Tiles is an event that took place in the French town of Grenoble on 7 June 1788. It was among the first of the revolts which preceded the French Revolution, and is credited by some historians as being the start of it.-Background:...
. The King ordered the expulsion of the parliamentarians from Grenoble. But the economy of the city was dependant of its Parliament. As a result, the people attacked the royal troops to prevent the expulsion of the magistrates. This event allowed the sitting of the Assembly of Vizille
Assembly of Vizille
The Assembly of Vizille was the result of a meeting of various representatives in Grenoble, which took place on 7 June 1788. Its purpose was to discuss the events of The Day Of The Tiles, one of the first revolts preceding the French Revolution....
. Its members obtained the meeting of the old Estates General, beginning thus the Revolution.
Revolutionary period and Empire
During the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, Dauphiné was highly represented in Paris by two illustrious notables from Grenoble, Jean Joseph Mounier
Jean Joseph Mounier
Jean Joseph Mounier was a French politician and judge.He was born at Grenoble . He studied law, and in 1783 obtained a judgeship at Grenoble. He took part in the struggle between the parlements and the court in 1788, and promoted the meeting of the estates of Dauphiné at Vizille , on the eve of...
and Antoine Barnave
Antoine Barnave
Antoine Pierre Joseph Marie Barnave was a French politician, and, together with Honoré Mirabeau, one of the most influential orators of the early part of the French Revolution...
.
In 1790, Dauphiné was divided in 3 departments, the current Isère
Isère
Isère is a department in the Rhône-Alpes region in the east of France named after the river Isère.- History :Isère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Dauphiné...
, Drôme and Hautes-Alpes
Hautes-Alpes
Hautes-Alpes is a department in southeastern France named after the Alps mountain range.- History :Hautes-Alpes is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
.
The approval of the establishment of the Empire
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
was clear and overwhelming (in Isère, the results showed 82,084 yes and only 12 no).
In 1813, Dauphiné was under the threat of the Austrian army which invaded Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Savoy. After having resisted at Fort Barraux, the French troops withdrew at Grenoble. The city, well-defended, contained the Austrian attacks and the French army defeated the Austrians, forcing them to withdraw at Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. But the invasion of France
Six Days Campaign
The Six Days Campaign was a final series of victories by the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte as the Sixth Coalition closed in on Paris....
in 1814 resulted in the capitulation of the troops in Dauphiné.
During his return
Hundred Days
The Hundred Days, sometimes known as the Hundred Days of Napoleon or Napoleon's Hundred Days for specificity, marked the period between Emperor Napoleon I of France's return from exile on Elba to Paris on 20 March 1815 and the second restoration of King Louis XVIII on 8 July 1815...
from the island of Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
in 1815, the Emperor was welcomed by the people in the Hautes-Alpes. At Laffrey
Laffrey
Laffrey is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.- See also :* Communes of the Isère department* Rampe de Laffrey* Grand lac de Laffrey* Route Napoléon...
, he met the royalist 5th Infantry Regiment of Louis XVIII. Napoleon stepped towards the soldiers and said those famous words: "If there is among you a soldier who wants to kill his Emperor, here I am ". The men all joined his cause. Napoleon was then acclaimed at Grenoble. After the defeat of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, the region suffered from a new invasion of the Austrians and Sardinians troops.
19th century
This century corresponds to a significant industrial development of Dauphiné, particularly in the region of Grenoble (glove-making reached its Golden AgeGolden Age
The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology and legend and refers to the first in a sequence of four or five Ages of Man, in which the Golden Age is first, followed in sequence, by the Silver, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and then the present, a period of decline...
at that time) and the Rhone Valley (silk mills). The industry of shoes also developed in Romans.
During the Second Empire
Second French Empire
The Second French Empire or French Empire was the Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870, between the Second Republic and the Third Republic, in France.-Rule of Napoleon III:...
, the Dauphiné saw the construction of its railway network (the first trains arrived at Valence in 1854 and at Grenoble in 1858). The driving of new roads in the Vercors and Chartreuse rangers allowed the beginning of tourism in the province. Moreover, several notable persons such as Queen Victoria came in the region with the success of thermal stations such as Uriage-les-Bains
Saint-Martin-d'Uriage
Saint-Martin-d'Uriage is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.-References:*...
.
In 1869, Aristide Berges played a major role in industrializing hydroelectricity production. With the development of his paper mills, he permitted industrial development of mountainous region of Dauphiné.
20th century
During the Belle EpoqueBelle Époque
The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I. Occurring during the era of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, it was a period characterised by optimism and new technological and medical...
, the region benefited from major transformations thanks to its economic growth. The Romanche Valley became one of the most important industrial valleys of the country. World War I accelerated that trend. Indeed, in order to sustain the war efforts, new hydroelectric industries settled next to different rivers of the region. Several other businesses moved into armament industries. Chemical companies also settled in the region of Grenoble and near Roussillon in the Rhone Valley.
The textile industry
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
of Dauphiné also benefited from the war. The occupation of northern France resulted in the settlement of many textile enterprises in the region. Vienne for instance produced in 1915 one fifth of the national production of sheets for the army.
Several Alpine troops, the Chasseurs Alpins, were killed at war. They were nicknamed the "Blue Devils" for their courage on the field.
The economic development of the region was highlighted by the organisation at Grenoble of the International Exposition of the "Houille Blanche" in 1925, visited by thousands of people.
The interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
was also characterized by the beginning of the winter sports in Dauphiné. The ski resort of l'Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez
L'Alpe d'Huez is a ski resort at . It is a mountain pasture in the Central French Alps, in the commune of Huez, in the Isère département in the Rhône-Alpes region.-Tour de France:L'Alpe d'Huez is one of the main mountains in the Tour de France...
was constructed in 1936 and Jean Pomagalski created there the first platter lift in the world.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, at the Battle of the Alps, the Chasseurs Alpins contained the Italian troops, preventing an invasion of the region. But the German victories in northern France quickly threatened the troops in Dauphiné. The Nazis were stopped near Grenoble, at Voreppe
Voreppe
Voreppe is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France....
. The French forces resisted until the armistice. The Dauphiné was then part of the French State
French state
The French state may refer to:*The Republic of France *Vichy France, 'French state' was the official name of the regime first directed by Philippe Pétain, explicitly opposed to the French Republic...
, before knowing the Italian occupation from 1942 to 1943, when the German occupied southern France.
Due to its mountainous character, Dauphiné was the seat of strong partisan
Maquis (World War II)
The Maquis were the predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance. Initially they were composed of men who had escaped into the mountains to avoid conscription into Vichy France's Service du travail obligatoire to provide forced labour for Germany...
activity. The better-known was the Maquis du Vercors
Maquis du Vercors
-In fiction:The maquis du Vercors is depicted and veterans act in Pierre Schoendoerffer's Above the Clouds 2002 feature film, and in the third season of the British TV programme Wish Me Luck, which first aired in 1990.-See also:...
. In 1944, its members suffered from German attacks. The martyr village of Vassieux
Vassieux-en-Vercors
Vassieux-en-Vercors is a commune in the department of Drôme in southeastern France.The town is known for its assistance to the French Resistance during World War II, for which it was awarded Ordre de la Libération.-Geography:...
was made Compagnon de la Libération by General Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
, as long as Grenoble to underline their actions against the Nazis.
In 1968, Grenoble welcomed the Xth Olympic Winter Games
1968 Winter Olympics
The 1968 Winter Olympics, officially known as the X Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1968 in Grenoble, France and opened on 6 February. Thirty-seven countries participated...
, allowing a major transformation of the city, the development of infrastructures (airport, motorways…) and new ski resorts (Chamrousse
Chamrousse
Chamrousse is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.The majestic mountain scenery towering above Grenoble is, for the most part, formed by the Belledonne range...
, Les Deux Alpes
Les Deux Alpes
Les Deux Alpes is a ski resort in the French Isère département. The village sits at 1650m and lifts run to 3600m . It has the largest skiable glacier in Europe and is France's second oldest ski resort behind Chamonix, where the largest mountain in western Europe is located, Mont Blanc...
, Villard de Lans…).
Demography
The various territories of Dauphiné experienced diverging demographic evolutions. While the plains of Low Dauphiné and the big cities benefited from a strong increase in population during the 20th century (thanks to the industrial development and immigrant workers' arrival), the mountainous regions of High-Dauphiné suffered from an important exodus.These days, all the territories benefit from an increase of population because of economic development and tourism.
| Territoire | 1801 | 1851 | 1901 | 1954 | 1975 | 1999 | 2006 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drôme department Drôme Drôme , a department in southeastern France, takes its name from the Drôme River.-History:The French National Constituent Assembly set up Drôme as one of the original 83 departments of France on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution... |
|||||||||
| Haute-Alpes department Hautes-Alpes Hautes-Alpes is a department in southeastern France named after the Alps mountain range.- History :Hautes-Alpes is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790... |
|||||||||
| Isère department | |||||||||
| Dauphiné | |||||||||
| Source : INSEE INSEE INSEE is the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies. It collects and publishes information on the French economy and society, carrying out the periodic national census. Located in Paris, it is the French branch of Eurostat, European Statistical System... |
|||||||||
There were a relative stability of the population of Dauphiné until the mid-20th century, when the growth became extremely stronger. It must be reminded nonetheless that several cities of northern Dauphiné (Villeurbanne
Villeurbanne
Villeurbanne is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It is situated northeast of Lyon, with which it forms the heart of the second-largest metropolitan area in France after that of Paris. Villeurbanne is the second-largest city in the department.-History:The current location of...
, Vénissieux
Vénissieux
Vénissieux is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France. It is the second-largest suburb of the city of Lyon, and is adjacent to the southeast.-Transport:...
, Bron
Bron
Bron is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It lies east of Lyon. It is the sixth-largest suburb of the city of Lyon, and is adjacent to its east side. It forms part of the Urban Community of Lyon.-History:...
and many others) had been included in the department of Rhône
Rhône (département)
Rhône is a French department located in the central Eastern region of Rhône-Alpes. It is named after the Rhône River.- History :The Rhône department was created on August 12, 1793 when the former département of Rhône-et-Loire was split into two departments: Rhône and Loire.Originally, the eastern...
. These cities represented in 1999 more than 460,000 inhabitants.
Histogram of the evolution since 1801:
Dauphiné has a density of 90,78 hab / km² with a very clear difference between Isère (159 hab / km²) and Hautes-Alpes (23 hab / km²).
Grenoble concentrates around the third of the population of Dauphiné. Valence is now the second big Dauphiné metropolis. Dauphiné also benefits from an important network of mid-sized cities covering all the territory (Vienne, Montélimar, Gap...).
The aires urbaines
Aire urbaine
The aire urbaine is a statistical region created by the INSEE that comprises a commuter belt surrounding a contiguous urban core...
of Dauphiné are:
| Aire urbaine | Population (1999) |
|
| 1 | Grenoble Grenoble Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère... |
|
| 2 | Valence | |
| 3 | Romans-sur-Isère Romans-sur-Isère Romans-sur-Isère or Romans is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Geography:... |
|
| 4 | Montélimar Montélimar Montélimar is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France. It is the second-largest town in the department after Valence.-History:... |
|
| 5 | Vienne | |
| 6 | Gap Gap, Hautes-Alpes Gap is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Hautes-Alpes department.-Geography:An Alpine crossroads at the intersection of D994 and Route nationale 85 the Route Napoléon, Gap lies above sea level along the right bank of the Luye River... |
|
| 7 | Voiron Voiron Voiron is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.- History :Voiron long formed part of Savoy, but in 1355 was exchanged by the count with France for Faucigny and Gex.Historical population:* 1901: 12,625- Geography :Voiron stands at a height of 950 ft., on the Morge Voiron... |
|
| 8 | Roussillon Roussillon, Isère Roussillon is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Isère department... |
|
| 9 | Bourgoin-Jallieu Bourgoin-Jallieu Bourgoin-Jallieu is a commune in the Isère department of south-eastern France.It lies 35 kilometres to the east-southeast of the city of Lyon. Its inhabitants are called Berjalliens.-Geography:... |
|
| 10 | Briançon Briançon Briançon a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.... |
|
| 11 | Livron-sur-Drôme Livron-sur-Drôme Livron-sur-Drôme is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*... |
Gastronomy
- the gratin dauphinois
- the pommes dauphines
- the Pogne
- the Saint-MarcellinSaint-MarcellinSaint-Marcellin is a soft French cheese made from cow's milk. Named after the small town of Saint-Marcellin , it is produced in a geographical area corresponding to part of the former Dauphiné province . It is generally small in size, weighing about 80 grams , with a mottled creamy-white exterior...
- the Saint-FélicienSaint-Félicien (cheese)Saint-Félicien is a cow's milk cheese produced in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. In France, it is designated a dauphinois cheese, referring to the former French province Dauphiné where it originated...
- the PicodonPicodonPicodon is a goats-milk cheese made in the region around the Rhône river in southern France. The name means "spicy" in Occitan.The cheese itself comes in a number of varieties, each small, flat and circular in shape varying from speckled white to golden in colour...
- the Ravioles du Royans
- the Bleu du Vercors-SassenageBleu du Vercors-SassenageBleu du Vercors-Sassenage is a mild pasteurized natural rind cow's milk blue cheese originally produced by monks in the Rhône-Alpes region of France in the 14th century. Now made in the Dauphiné area, the cheese has been a protected Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée since 1998. As a requirement, the...
(auparavant bleu de Sassenage) - the Nougat de MontélimarNougatNougat is a variety of similar traditional confectioneries made with sugar and/or honey, roasted nuts , and sometimes chopped candied fruit. The consistency of nougat can range from soft and chewy to hard and crunchy depending on its composition, and it is used in a variety of candy bars and...
- the Pétafine
... and for some products of its terroir
Terroir
Terroir comes from the word terre "land". It was originally a French term in wine, coffee and tea used to denote the special characteristics that the geography, geology and climate of a certain place bestowed upon particular varieties...
:
- the défarde crestoise
- the Caillette de ChabeuilChabeuilChabeuil is a commune of the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
- the wallnut of GrenobleGrenobleGrenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
(in fact the all valley of the Isère riverIsère RiverThe Isère is a 286 km long river in southeastern France, in the Rhône-Alpes région. Its source is in the Alps on the border with Italy, near the ski resort Val d'Isère. It flows into the Rhône River in Pont-de-l'Isère, a few km north of Valence...
) - the lamb of Savournon
- the Olive oilOlive oilOlive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
de NyonsNyonsNyons is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-History:Nyons was settled in the 6th century BC as Nyrax by a Gallic tribe, probably the Segusiavi or the Sequani... - the Coteaux du TricastinCoteaux du Tricastin AOCCoteaux du Tricastin AOC is the northernmost wine-growing AOC in the southern area of the Rhône wine region of France. The wines are produced in 21 communes in the department of Drôme on the east bank of the Rhône River in a triangle bounded by Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, Montélimar, and Grignan;...
- the clairette de Die
- the ChartreuseChartreuse (liqueur)Chartreuse is a French liqueur made by the Carthusian Monks since the 1740s. It is composed of distilled alcohol aged with 130 herbal extracts. The liqueur is named after the Monks' Grande Chartreuse monastery, located in the Chartreuse Mountains in the general region of Grenoble in France...
(verte, jaune, etc.) - the crozes-hermitageCrozes-HermitageCrozes-Hermitage is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-Wine:Wine is produced under the Crozes-Hermitage AOC designation.-References:*...
- the HermitageHermitage AOCHermitage is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in the northern Rhône wine region of France south of Lyon. It produces mostly red wine from the Syrah grape; however, small quantities of white wine are also produced from Roussane and Marsanne grapes...
Further reading
- Pfeiffer, Thomas, Le Brûleur de loups, Lyon, Bellier, 2004.
- Félix Vernay, Petite Histoire du Dauphiné, 1933.
See also
- Dauphiné AlpsDauphiné AlpsThe Dauphiné Alps are a group of mountain ranges in southeastern France, west of the main chain of the Alps. They are separated from the Cottian Alps in the east by the Col du Galibier and the upper Durance valley; from the western Graian Alps in the north-east by the river Arc; from the lower...
- Franco-Provençal languageFranco-Provençal languageFranco-Provençal , Arpitan, or Romand is a Romance language with several distinct dialects that form a linguistic sub-group separate from Langue d'Oïl and Langue d'Oc. The name Franco-Provençal was given to the language by G.I...
- Vivaro-AlpineVivaro-AlpineVivaro-Alpine or Vivaroalpenc, Vivaroaupenc is the northeastern dialect of the Occitan language. It belongs to the Northern Occitan dialectal group. Vivaro-Alpine is spoken in Southern France and North-Western Italy, and in the remote Guardia Piemontese, Calabria, where it is known as gardiol...