Poitou-Charentes

Poitou-Charentes was a former administrative region on the southwestern coast of France. It brought together the departments of Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne, and incorporated areas associated with the historical provinces of Angoumois, Aunis, Saintonge and Poitou. Poitiers served as the regional capital, while La Rochelle, Niort, Angoulême, Châtellerault, Saintes, Rochefort and Royan were among its other important urban centers. The region was an administrative and political unit of modern France rather than a conventional commercial brand. Its public identity was connected with regional government, tourism, agriculture, local industries, cultural heritage and the distinctive historical traditions of western France. A regional council of 56 members governed the area before its administrative replacement in 2016. Poitou-Charentes had a mixed economy. Agriculture was significant, with wheat, maize and cattle among the activities associated with the region. Industrial production included machinery, chemicals and dairy products. La Rochelle and other coastal communities also supported maritime and port-related activity, while inland cities contributed manufacturing, services and administrative functions. The region's historical and cultural profile drew on Poitou, Aunis, Saintonge and Angoumois, as well as coastal landscapes and towns such as Royan and Rochefort. The territory has a long history. The Pictavi, a Gallic people, were incorporated into the Roman world in the first century BC. The area later passed through Visigothic and Frankish control. Poitiers is associated with the 732 or 733 battle in which Charles Martel halted a Muslim military advance into western Europe. During the medieval period, the counts of Poitou also held the dukedom of Aquitaine, increasing Poitiers' political importance. Poitou came under English control in the twelfth century following Eleanor of Aquitaine's marriage to Henry II, and it was subsequently restored to the French crown. Revolutionary administrative reforms divided the former province among departments, including Vienne and Deux-Sèvres, while neighboring historical territories developed their own administrative identities. Poitou-Charentes also has an important relationship with the history of French settlement in North America. Parts of southern Poitou-Charentes and neighboring Aquitaine are regarded as source areas for some Acadian and Cajun populations. Migrants from the region settled in eastern Canada during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and contributed to agricultural and maritime communities associated with Acadia. The region was dissolved as an administrative unit on 1 January 2016, when it merged with Aquitaine and Limousin to create Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Its former departments remain part of France's territorial organization, while the name continues to have historical, cultural, geographic and tourism significance.

Poitou-Charentes was a modern administrative region of western France whose identity rested on the older historical regions of Poitou, Aunis, Saintonge and Angoumois. It occupied a broad area between inland west-central France and the Atlantic coast. The region comprised the departments of Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne. Poitiers was the administrative capital; La Rochelle, Niort, Angoulême, Châtellerault, Saintes, Rochefort and Royan were among its principal communities. The area's earliest recorded population included the Pictavi, a Gallic people. Roman forces conquered the territory in 56 BC and incorporated it into Gaul, within the wider province of Aquitania. After the decline of Roman authority, the region was controlled by the Visigoths before being taken by the Franks in the early sixth century. Poitiers later became associated with the battle of 732 or 733, when Charles Martel stopped a Muslim military advance. The event became one of the best-known episodes in the medieval history of western Europe, although its interpretation and broader significance have been debated by historians. From the tenth century through the middle of the twelfth century, the counts of Poitou also held the title of dukes of Aquitaine. This connection strengthened the political importance of Poitiers and linked the area to the wider history of Aquitaine. In 1152, Poitou entered the English sphere through the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II, who later became king of England. The territory was eventually recovered by the French monarchy and was reunited with the French crown in 1416. The French Revolution transformed the former provincial system. Between 1789 and 1795, the historic province of Poitou was divided into departments, including Vienne and Deux-Sèvres, while other historic territories were reorganized into neighboring departments. Modern Poitou-Charentes was later established as a regional administrative framework encompassing four departments. Its institutions coordinated regional policy, infrastructure, economic development, environmental initiatives and cultural or tourism promotion. The regional council had 56 members. The region's economy combined farming, industry, services and coastal activity. Wheat, maize and cattle were important agricultural products. Manufacturing included machinery, chemicals and dairy products. Coastal cities and ports, particularly La Rochelle and Rochefort, contributed maritime significance, while inland centers such as Niort, Poitiers and Angoulême supported administration, commerce and industry. The region's historical towns, Atlantic coastline and rural landscapes also supported tourism. Poitou-Charentes had a multilingual cultural heritage. Poitevin, Saintongeais and varieties of Occitan, including Limousin and Marchois, were spoken by minority communities. The region is also linked to the history of French migration to North America. Southern Poitou-Charentes and nearby Aquitaine are commonly identified as origin areas for some Acadian and Cajun families. Settlers who left during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries helped establish agricultural and maritime communities in eastern Canada and other parts of North America. In the national administrative reorganization that took effect on 1 January 2016, Poitou-Charentes was merged with Aquitaine and Limousin to create Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The former region therefore no longer exists as an independent administrative entity, although its name remains relevant in historical, cultural, genealogical and tourism contexts.

• 2016

  Creation of Nouvelle-Aquitaine

  [1]Poitou-Charentesen.wikipedia.org

  Poitou-Charentes was merged with Aquitaine and Limousin to establish the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

• 1789

  Revolutionary territorial reorganization

  [1]Poitou-Charentesen.wikipedia.org

  The French Revolution began the administrative division of the historic province into departments.

• 1416

  Reunion with the French crown

  [1]Poitou-Charentesen.wikipedia.org

  Poitou was reunited with the French crown and remained a province of France until the Revolution.

• Roman conquest of the territory

  [1]Poitou-Charentesen.wikipedia.org

  Roman forces conquered the area associated with the Pictavi and incorporated it into Gaul within Aquitania.

• Battle of Poitiers

  [1]Poitou-Charentesen.wikipedia.org

  Charles Martel's victory at or near Poitiers became a major episode in the medieval history of the region and western Europe.

• Poitou enters the English sphere

  [1]Poitou-Charentesen.wikipedia.org

  The marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II brought Poitou under English control.

A former southwestern French administrative region positioned around the historical identity of Poitou and Charentes, combining agricultural production, coastal and maritime heritage, regional industry, historic cities and tourism.

Product categories. Agricultural commodities · Dairy products · Machinery · Chemicals · Maritime and coastal tourism services

• 2016

  Administrative merger into Nouvelle-AquitaineStrategy

  Background

  France reorganized its regional administrative structure, ending Poitou-Charentes' status as a separate region.

  Action taken

  Poitou-Charentes was combined with Aquitaine and Limousin in the new Nouvelle-Aquitaine region on 1 January 2016.

  Aftermath

  The former region's departments continued within Nouvelle-Aquitaine, while Poitou-Charentes remained a historical and cultural designation.

  Source

• 2016

  Poitou-Charentes merged into Nouvelle-Aquitaine[1]Poitou-Charentesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Poitou-Charentes ceased to exist as a separate administrative region on 1 January 2016 after being combined with Aquitaine and Limousin to form Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

1. 1Poitou-Charentesen.wikipedia.org