County of Champagne: Map & History
The County of Champagne was a medieval territory and feudal principality in the Kingdom of France.
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The County of Champagne was a medieval territory and feudal principality in the Kingdom of France. It developed on the rich plains between Paris and the border of the Holy Roman Empire in the 12th century. It became an economic hub of northern France and an international trade center in part due to the trade fairs instituted by Count Theobald II, and steady land clearing led to economic and urban growth. Count Henry the Liberal established the city of Troyes as the county's capital and expanded the state. The court of Champagne under Count Henry and Countess Marie saw a proliferation of literary authors. In the 13th century, Count Theobald III, Countess Blanche, and Count Theobald IV oversaw a centralization of the state. The county is noted for its support to the crusades and monastic foundations, especially those of the Cistercians, which originated within its borders. From 1234 the count of Champagne was also the king of Navarre, and the marriage of Queen Joan I of Navarre with King Philip IV of France led to the county being absorbed into the royal domain of the kings of France in the 14th century.
Modern Countries Once Part of County of Champagne
At its mapped extent, County of Champagne covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside County of Champagne's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
County of Champagne in Depth
Economy
The economy of the county steadily expanded through persistent land clearing and urban growth. The Champagne trade fairs, initiated under Theobald II and protected and regulated by the subsequent counts, made the county the center of international trade and finance through most of the 1100s and 1200s. They principally attracted merchants and travelers from the neighboring County of Flanders and the Rhine Valley as well as from the states of Italy and England, but they also came from as far as the Mediterranean and the Baltic.
Culture
The intellectual and literary interests of Count Henry and Countess Marie transformed the county's capital, Troyes, into a cultural center as well. Numerous authors were active in the county and appeared at the court. Nicholas of Clairvaux, who was associated with the county's Clairvaux Abbey and the bishopric of Troyes, dedicated two collections of his literary works to Count Henry. Peter of Celle, who came from a Champenois noble family, is described by historian John F. Benton as "one of the finest spiritual writers of the twelfth century".
The most scholarly person at Henry's court, according to Benton, was Stephen of Alinerre, but his works have not survived.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: County of Champagne (CC BY-SA 4.0).
County of Champagne: Key Facts
| Capitals | Troyes, Provins |
|---|---|
| Founded | 967 CE |
| Dissolved | 1314 |
Facts from Wikidata Q546266 (CC0).
County of Champagne Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which County of Champagne appears, with the other states of the time.
County of Champagne Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 27,490 km² in 1048 CE.
County of Champagne: Frequently Asked Questions
When did County of Champagne exist?
County of Champagne is dated to 990 CE – 1284 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of County of Champagne?
The capital of County of Champagne was Troyes.
How large was County of Champagne at its peak?
At its peak in 1048 AD County of Champagne covered about 27,490 km².
How did the map of County of Champagne change over time?
County of Champagne appears on 3 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1000 CE to 1200 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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