Artois (Traditional province, France)

Last modified: 2004-07-03 by ivan sache
Keywords: artois | fleur-de-lys (yellow) | castles: 9 (yellow) | label (red) |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

by Pierre Gay

• History of Artois
• Description of the flag of Artois

See also:

• France
• Traditional provinces
• Region
  • Nord-Pas-de-Calais
• Department
  • Pas-de-Calais

History of Artois

Artois was originally known as the pagus Atrebatensis. It was a a part of the county of Flanders, ruled by the house founded by Baudoin, son-in-law of Charles le Chauve, king of Francia Occidentalis. In 1180, Philippe d'Alsace gave Artois as a dowry to his niece Isabelle de Hainaut, who married king of France Philippe-Auguste. Their son Louis was granted Artois as his apanage. When Louis was crowned king of France as Louis VIII le Lion in 1223, Artois was incorporated to the royal domain. At that time, Artois included the seigniories of Arras, Bapaume, Aire, Saint-Omer, Lens and Hesdin, as well as the Boulenois and the Ternois.

In 1237, king of France Louis IX (Saint Louis) gave Artois as his apanage to his brother Robert. Artois was then ruled by Capetian counts and countesses (Robert I, Robert II, Mahaut and Jeanne) and later by the dukes of the first house of Burgundy (Eudes IV, Phillipe de Rouvres).

In 1382, Louis de Male, count of Flande