In medieval times, France was not a unified nation as we know it today.
Instead, it was divided into numerous feudal territories and independent kingdoms, each with its own ruling noble or monarch.
This fragmentation of power and the complex web of feudal relationships made it challenging to map out France as a single coherent entity.
During the early Middle Ages, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the region that would become France was divided into various kingdoms, such as Aquitaine, Burgundy, and Brittany, each ruled by its own local ruler or duke. Over time, these territories experienced shifts in boundaries and allegiances due to warfare, marriages, and political alliances.
A map of the Carolingian Empire (a.k.a. Francia, the Frankish Empire) within Europe circa 814 CE.
The process of centralization and the emergence of a more unified French state began with the Capetian dynasty in the 10th century. The Capetian kings gradually expanded their control over neighboring territories, often through strategic marriages and diplomacy, and established the foundations of a centralized monarchy. However, even during this period, the French kingdom faced challenges from powerful vassals and rival claimants to the throne.
A map of the Kingdom of France within Europe circa 1000 CE. The main subdivisions of the Byzantine Empire, Holy Roman Empire, Burgundy, France and Poland are also shown.
A map of the Kingdom of France within Europe circa 1097 CE, during the first crusade. Note that the bright green area (i.e. the en:Duchy of Normandy), while nominally part of France, was controlled by the Kingdom of England. Note that while presented as a single entity, the Pechenegs and Finnic tribes were not connected, I simply couldn’t determine where their borders lay. The Pechenegs occupied Ciscaucasia and the area north/north-west of the black sea. The Finnic/Uralic tribes occupied the north of modern day Russia, as well as Finland and northern Scandinavia. Similarly, Ireland was not united but was in fact composed of many petty kingdoms with a weak over-king (who also did not “control” all of Ireland).
A map of the Kingdom of France within Europe circa 1190 CE. Note that the bright green area was controlled by the so-called Angevin Empire (i.e. lands held by the English crown or its vassals.) Note that the borders of the Cumans, Kipchaks, Kievan Rus’, Kama Bulgarians and Viatka do not extend right to the edge of the map (due to a sub-map covering them up on the source map). Also, Ireland was not united but was in fact composed of many petty kingdoms with a weak over-king.
It was not until the later medieval period, particularly during the reign of Louis XI in the 15th century, that France started to resemble a more cohesive and centralized nation. Through a combination of diplomacy, military campaigns, and administrative reforms, Louis XI sought to consolidate power and establish the authority of the monarchy over the various feudal territories.
Louis XI
The complex history of feudal divisions, shifting alliances, and territorial disputes in medieval France makes it difficult to depict the country as a single entity on a map. Instead, historical maps of medieval France often showcase the diverse regions and their respective rulers, highlighting the intricate web of political and territorial divisions that characterized the medieval period.
