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Alsace
Alsace, administrative region and former province of northeastern France, now comprising the departments of Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin. In addition to producing textiles and chemicals, Alsace has a well-developed agricultural economy. Important crops include grains, tobacco, and grapes.
After the empire of Charlemagne was partitioned in 817 and 843, Alsace became part of Lotharingia, the kingdom of Lothair. In 925 Alsace became part of the German duchy of Swabia or Alemannia and was absorbed into the Holy Roman Empire, of which it remained a part for some 800 years. It remained a German possession until the 17th century, and during this period strong feudal principalities, controlled largely by the Habsburg rulers of Austria, emerged. A number of rich and powerful towns, such as Strasbourg and Colmar, developed in the late Middle Ages and won status as free towns or miniature republics. By the terms of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which concluded the Thirty Years' War, Alsace was placed under the sovereignty of France. Alsace constituted a province of the kingdom of France until the French Revolution (1789-1799), when Alsace was split into the departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin. These departments, together with part of Lorraine, were incorporated into the German Empire after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. For subsequent history see Alsace-Lorraine.
From: "Alsace," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2006, http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
© 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Lorraine (region, France)
Lorraine (region, France), administrative region and former province, northeastern France. Historically, it includes the portion of Charlemagne's empire that fell in 843 to Lothair I, Holy Roman emperor, by the Treaty of Verdun. It consisted of the lands between the Schelde (Escaut), Meuse, and Rhine rivers, called Lotharingia, Lothringen, or Lorraine. In 954 it was divided into two duchies; in the 12th century it comprised one duchy that was united with the French nation in 1766. The district between Metz and Vosges, later called German Lorraine, was ceded to Germany in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War. It reverted to France after World War I, was annexed (1940-44) by Germany, and was then liberated. Today, the region, rich in iron deposits, is divided into four French departments. See Alsace-Lorraine.
From "Lorraine (region, France)," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2006, http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
© 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Alsace-Lorraine
Alsace-Lorraine (German Elsass-Lothringen), historic frontier area of northeastern France, separated from Germany on the east by the Rhine River and drained by the Mosel River. The Vosges Mountains are in the east. Today Alsace-Lorraine consists of three departments: Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin, in the French administrative region of Alsace, and Moselle, part of the region of Lorraine. The chief cities are Strasbourg, Mulhouse, and Metz.
After the breakup of Charlemagne's empire in the 9th century, the region became the object of disputes between French and Germanic rulers, passing from the control of one to the other. The term Alsace-Lorraine was first used in 1871, when, by the terms of the Peace Treaty of Frankfurt concluding the Franco-Prussian War, the former provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, which had been under French rule since the middle of the 17th century, were annexed by Germany. They were returned to France in 1919, after World War I, by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. During World War II, under terms of the armistice of 1940 between France and Germany, the territory was ceded to Germany, but France regained it after Germany's defeat in 1945.
French is the dominant language in both Alsace and Lorraine. Alsatian, a German dialect, is also spoken in this area, chiefly in Alsace, although its use is decreasing. In many respects, the culture of the whole region is uniform, containing both French and German elements. At various times autonomy movements have been initiated, directed against Germany between 1871 and World War I and against France after World War I. The sentiment of the region during both world wars, however, was markedly pro-French.
Contributed By: George W. Hoffman, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Geography, University of Texas at Austin;
Visiting Professor, University of Maryland; Professorial Lecturer, George Washington University.
Author of The European Energy Challenge and other books.
From: "Alsace-Lorraine," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2006 http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
© 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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