County of Foix

The independent counts of Foix, with their castle overlooking the town of Foix, now in southernmost France, governed their county of Foix, which corresponded roughly to the eastern part of the modern département of Ariège (the western part being Couserans). However, it should be noted that in 1290 the counts of Foix acquired Béarn, which became the center of their domain, and from that time on the counts of Foix rarely resided in the county of Foix, preferring the richer and more verdant Béarn.

Related Topics:
Foix - Département - Ariège - Couserans - 1290 - Béarn

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During the Middle Ages, the county of Foix was an independent fief of the kingdom of France and consisted of an agglomeration of small holdings ruled by lords, who, though subordinate to the counts of Foix, had some voice in the government of the county. The provincial-states of the county, which can be traced back to the 14th century, consisted of three orders and possessed considerable power and energy. In the 17th and 18th centuries Foix formed one of the thirty-three gouvernements (military areas) of France and kept its provincial-states until the French Revolution. In 1790 it was joined with Couserans to form the département of Ariège (see Couserans article for a full explanation).

Related Topics:
Middle Ages - French Revolution - Couserans

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The province of County of Foix, as it existed just before the French Revolution, had a land area of 2,466 km² (952 sq. miles). At the 1999 census there were 76,809 inhabitants living on the territory of the former province of County of Foix, which means a density of only 32 inh. per km² (84 inh. per sq. miles). The largest urban areas are Pamiers, with 17,715 inhabitants in 1999, and Foix, with 10,378 inhabitants in 1999.

Related Topics:
French Revolution - 2,466 km² - Pamiers - Foix

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