Talk:Duchy of Gascony/workpage

The Duchy of Gascony was a principality during the Middle Ages, corresponding to the region of France still known as Gascony. Lying in the southwest corner of the Frankish empire, Gascony was originally inhabited by Basques and its dukes appointed by the Merovingian kings to defend the frontier with Visigoths. Only a few names of dukes are known from the seventh century, as the Franks gradually loost control of the region. By the eighth century it was the most obscure part of their empire. The origins of the dukes who reappear in the sources, beginning with Lupus in 769, are poorly known. They may have been local leaders recognised by the Frankish authorities, or occasionally Frankish appointees.

A line of dukes probably of Basque origin ruled Gascony from the mid-ninth century until the mid-eleventh. In this period the Gascon counties and viscounties, such as Armagnac and Béarn, were formed. Between 977 and 988 the city of Bordeaux was acquired by Duke William Sánchez and it became the capital of the duchy. At this juncture the centre of gravity in the duchy shifted north, towards Romance-speaking lands. It was also a period of prosperity. The duke had defeated the Vikings in 982 and had established control over the church through the "Archbishop of the Gascons", his brother Gombald. The Peace of God movement originated in Gascony at this time.

In 1032, Duke Sancho VI died and Gascony passed to his son-in-law, Odo, who in 1038 inherited the Duchy of Aquitaine also. The union of Gascony with Aquitaine was never completely reversed.