History
Ile-de-France on a map of France.
Ile-de-France, also known as Isle de France is a historical province of France, and the one at the center of power during most of French history. The historical province is centred on Paris, the seat of the Crown of France, but it does correspond to the present-day région Île-de-France: some parts of the historical province now are incorporated in the present-day region of Picardy, whereas other parts of the present-day région Île-de-France are taken from the historical province of Champagne.
The name Isle de France was first used in 1387 when the word "France" began to show territories of the Crown, replacing the phrase pays de France. Literally "Island of France", the name came from the area's situation with the rivers Seine, Marne, Oise and Beuvronne, which surround it like an island. The name may also be from the Frankish Lidle Franke / Lilde Franke, or, "little France". Because the "French"/Frankish kings were bilingual until the 12th or 13th century, the Frankish expression may have evolved when Francia no longer meant the entire Frankish Empire but the smaller West Francia, and later the "Pays de France". The expression "Lidle Franke" / "Lilde Franke" may have persisted until the 13th century when locals quit saying the "s" in "isle"; then "Lilde France" would have been difficult to distinguish from l'Île-de-France (Little island of France).
The area around Paris was the original personal property of the king of France, as opposed to areas ruled by feudal lords of whom he was the suzerain. This is shown by divisions such as the Véxin Français and the Véxin Normand, the former being within the King of France's domain, the latter being within the Duke of Normandy's fief.
The name Isle de France was first used in 1387 when the word "France" began to show territories of the Crown, replacing the phrase pays de France. Literally "Island of France", the name came from the area's situation with the rivers Seine, Marne, Oise and Beuvronne, which surround it like an island. The name may also be from the Frankish Lidle Franke / Lilde Franke, or, "little France". Because the "French"/Frankish kings were bilingual until the 12th or 13th century, the Frankish expression may have evolved when Francia no longer meant the entire Frankish Empire but the smaller West Francia, and later the "Pays de France". The expression "Lidle Franke" / "Lilde Franke" may have persisted until the 13th century when locals quit saying the "s" in "isle"; then "Lilde France" would have been difficult to distinguish from l'Île-de-France (Little island of France).
The area around Paris was the original personal property of the king of France, as opposed to areas ruled by feudal lords of whom he was the suzerain. This is shown by divisions such as the Véxin Français and the Véxin Normand, the former being within the King of France's domain, the latter being within the Duke of Normandy's fief.