Auvergne

The County of Auvergne was a French fief in the mountains of south-central France, distinct from the region’s other lordships. In 1337 it belonged to the young Countess Joan I, who had inherited it in 1332.

In 1350 Joan married the future King John II and became queen of France. The county suffered raids during the Hundred Years’ War and later passed to the House of La Tour d’Auvergne. Catherine de’ Medici inherited it in 1531; it eventually became royal domain, and the old province was divided into departments in 1790.