Maine (Traditional province, France)

Last modified: 2004-07-03 by ivan sache
Keywords: maine | fleur-de-lys (yellow) | lion (white) |
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by Pierre Gay

• History of Maine
• Description of the flag of Maine

See also:

• France
• Traditional provinces
• Regions
  • Pays de la Loire
  • Basse-Normandie
  • Centre
• Departments
  • Mayenne
  • Sarthe
  • Orne
  • Eure-et-Loire

History of Maine

Maine is traditionally divided in Upper-Maine, more or less the department of Sarthe, and Lower-Maine, more or less the department of Mayenne. The river Maine (la Maine, whereas the province is le Maine) has no source since it is made by the confluency of the rivers Mayenne and Sarthe, ten kilometers north of Angers, where the Maine flows into the Loire. The two rivers gave the name of the department of Maine-et-Loire, which matches more or less the traditional province of Anjou. Hence the river Maine does not water the province of Maine.

The County of Maine was formed in the Xth century. It was incorporated to the duchy of Anjou in 1126 and became part of the Anglo-Angevin empire in 1154 when Henri Plantagenet was crowned king of England. Philippe-Auguste confiscated Maine to John Lackland in 1204. Maine was given in 1248 to St. Louis' brother, Charl