Duke of Normandy
The Duchy of Normandy (Duché de Normandie), a region in the province of Neustria (now northern France), was created by the treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte in 911, and granted to Rollo, leader of the Vikings known as Northmen (or in Latin Northmannorum). It was formed from Rouen county, the Pays de Caux and Talou (Dieppe county) which the Vikings had colonised. The capital was established at Rouen in 912, and a western capital was later established at Caen as the Duchy expanded.
In 928 Evreux county, Hiémois county and the Bessin were added.
In 931-934, William Longsword, Rollo's son, added the Cotentin Peninsula and the Avranchin.
As his predecessors were styled jarl of the Northmen (Normans), Richard II was the first to be formally styled duke of Normandy.
In 1066, William the Bastard added the country of England through the Norman Conquest. However, in practice, the Duchy was seen to be owned by England rather than the other way around, until, in 1204, the continental lands of the Duchy were taken over by the French King Philip Augustus. The English kings continued to claim the title until the Treaty of Paris of 1259, when they gave up their claims to it, although English monarchs have continued to rule the Channel Islands, a part of the Duchy since 933, being known in the Islands as Duke of Normandy. English monarchs made subsequent attempts to reclaim their former continental possessions, particularly during the Hundred Years' War.
On several occasions, the Duchy was given out as an apanage for a member of the French royal family, most notably by Philip VI for his eldest son, the future King John II; by John II for his son, the future Charles V, who was, however, usually known as the Dauphin; and by Louis XI for his brother Charles, usually known by his other title of Duc de Berri.
The future Louis XVII was also known as Duke of Normandy before his elder brother's death in 1789.
The French Revolution brought an end to the historic rights and privileges of the Duchy, and the territory of Normandy was divided into five départements.
