Guyenne

Guyenne was a historical region of southwestern France. It roughly corresponded to the Roman province of Aquitania Secunda and, more broadly, to the later province of Guyenne and Gascony. The name derives from Aquitania, evolving through Occitan Guiana.

Historically, Guyenne was a major fiefdom held by the Plantagenet kings of England from the 12th to the mid-15th centuries. Eleanor of Aquitaine brought the region to England through her marriage to Henry II in 1152. During this period, Bordeaux, the principal city of Guyenne, flourished through the wine trade with England.

The Hundred Years' War was largely fought over control of Guyenne. The French crown gradually gained ground, and by the mid-15th century, only a small portion of the territory remained under English control. The Battle of Castillon in 1453 effectively marked the end of English rule in Guyenne and the conclusion of the Hundred Years' War.

After the Hundred Years' War, Guyenne was integrated into the Kingdom of France. It remained an important administrative region until the French Revolution, when the provinces were abolished and replaced by departments. The historical region of Guyenne roughly corresponds to the modern French departments of Gironde, Dordogne, Lot-et-Garonne, and parts of Lot, Tarn-et-Garonne, and Gers. The name Guyenne is still sometimes used informally to refer to this area of France, often in conjunction with Gascony.