Île-de-France (province)

This article is about the historical province of Île-de-France. For the current French administrative région, see Île-de-France (région). For other meanings without the circumflex accent, see Ile de France.

Île-de-France is one of the traditional provinces of France, and the one that played the most crucial role in French history. Today, the territory of the province of Île-de-France is divided between the Île-de-France région and the Picardie région.

The name first appears in 1387, replacing the older "Pays de France" when the word pays began to mean Nation rather than region/area. (source: Quid). The area around Paris was the original personal domain of the King of France, as opposed to areas ruled by feudal lords of whom he was the suzerain. This is reflected by divisions such as the French Vexin compared to the Norman Vexin, the former being within the King of France's fief, the second being within the Duke of Normandy's fief.