Berry (province)
The Berry is a region in central France. Its name refers it from the Gallic tribe of Bituriges, its inhabitants are called Berrichons. The Berry was an old province of France until they were replaced on March 4, 1790 by the department. There is today primarily from the departments of Cher ( the skin -Berry ) and Indre ( the Bas -Berry ). Capital of Berry is Bourges, another important city is Châteauroux.
The Berry is on the Jurakalktafel the southern Paris Basin, which is intersected by the rivers Cher, Indre and Creuse, already bordered to the south by the north-western foothills of the Massif Central. Where the limestone plateau is sparsely covered with clay, dominate pastures and less intensive sheep farming. In the core region of Berry, however, the Champagne berrichonne north of Châteauroux, especially grain is grown. In the East you will find viticulture with the AOC documents ( Appellation d' Origine ) Menetou-Salon, Quincy, Reuilly and Sancerre
The Berry is known as the birth region of several kings and other members of the royal family, as well as George Sand and Alexandre Dumas.
Connected to the Berry are also the famous manuscripts Les très belles heures du Duc de Berry and Les très riches heures du Duc de Berry, which was a completed prior to 1402 and is situated in the Bibliothèque Royale in Brussels, the other is from the years 1413 to 1416 and is located in the Musée Condé, Chantilly.
History
The Berry heard the end of the 5th century the Visigoths, from 507, after the Battle of Vouillé the Frankish Empire, and thus to Aquitaine. In the Carolingian period the Berry was self-employed as a county Bourges, before it and the counties of Anjou and Blois (skin -Berry in the Northeast ) was divided between the Duchy of Aquitaine (Bas -Berry in the southwest ). In addition to the east was the rule of Bourbon ( Bourbonnais ). The French kings began from the 11th century in order to seize the Berry, the inclusion in the Domaine royal but dragged on for more than a hundred years to 1101 viscounty Bourges, Issoudun 1221 and Châteauroux.
The Berry to the Duchy as the King John II an appanage for his son Johann (1340-1416) 1360 was raised, einrichtete. The duchy returned to his death in the Domaine royal back, because he had survived his sons and the title - since Apanage - could not be inherited by the descendants in the female line.
1419, Charles of France adorned himself with the title, though he. Already Duke of Touraine, heir apparent and regent for his father Charles VI the madman was; even after his accession to the throne in 1422 as Charles VII of title was not awarded again. It was not until his death in 1461 there was a new duke, Charles, the youngest son of the king, but already in 1465 exchanged the title against the Duke of Normandy.
After a newborn had been appointed, but did not live to his first birthday, the Duchy of 1498 went to Joan of France, daughter of King Louis XI. , Wife of the future King Louis XII. and founder of the Annunziatenordens who was canonized in 1950. According to her, still wearing two other important rulers of the title; Claude de France and Margaret of Angoulême, but then the Duchy of Berry fell to one of many titles down in the French monarchy.
The last duke, Charles -Ferdinand (1778-1820), the second son of King Charles X (1757-1836) and father of the Count of Chambord called Pretender Henri d' Artois.