fjt_949056 - NORMANDY (GENTRY AND TOWNS OF...) François Henri, duc de HARCOURT n.d.

NORMANDY (GENTRY AND TOWNS OF...)

Normandy covers on the one hand the region of Rouen or upper Normandy around the Seine valley and on the other hand lower Normandy around Caen with the Cotentin and the Pays d'Auge. Inhabited since the Paleolithic era, the Seine valley is an important way of trade and habitation, and is then occupied by various Celtic peoples such as the Calètes, the Véliocasses or the Aulerques Éburovices. Roman, it then passes into the kingdom of Syagrius before being occupied by the Franks from 486. Ravaged by the incursions of the Normans, the region was recognized by Charles the Simple.. The Dukes of Normandy were then the allies of the first Capetians and in the 11th century were at the head of one of the richest and best administratively organized states in Europe, which is also shown by the expansion towards southern Italy and england. In the French monarchy, Normandy keeps its institutions, for example with the maintenance of the Exchequer, or its customary law codified in the "Grand Coutumier". Deeply affected during the Wars of Religion, Normandy saw its last vestiges of independence disappear in the 17th century following the revolts of the "Barefoot". The textile industry was favored under Colbert which gave a new economic boost to Normandy.