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France

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the country. For other uses, see France (disambiguation).

This article may betoo longto read and navigate comfortably. Thereadable prose

sizeis 108 kilobytes. Please considersplittingcontent into sub-articlesand/orcondensingit. (June 2013)

See also:France portalandOutline of France

French Republic

Rpubl ique franaise

Flag National emblem

Motto:

"Libert, galit, fraternit"

"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"

Anthem: "La Marseillaise"

MENU

0:00

The logo of the French government
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Location ofMetropolitan France (dark green)

inEurope (green & dark grey)

in theEuropean Union (green) [Legend]

Territory of the French Republic.a

Capital

and largest city

Paris

4851.4N221.05E

Official languages French[note 1]

Demonym French

Government Unitarysemi-presidentialconstitutional

republic

- President Franois Hollande

- Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault

Legislature Parliament

- Upper house Senate

- Lower house National Assembly

Formation

- Frankish Kingdom

(unified byClovis)

486

- Kingdom of France

(Treaty of Verdun)

843

- French Republic

(National Convention)

1792

- Current constitution

(Fifth Republic)

4 October 1958

Area

- Total[note 2] 674,843 km2(41st)
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260,558 sq mi

- Metropolitan France

-IGN[note 3] 551,695 km2(47th)

213,010 sq mi

-Cadastre[note 4] 543,965 km2(47th)

210,026 sq mi

Population

(2012)

- Total[note 2] 65,350,000[2](19th)

- Metropolitan

France

63,460,000[1](22nd)

- Density[note 5] 116/km2(89th)

301/sq mi

GDP(PPP) 2012 estimate

- Total $2.254 trillion[3](9th)

- Per capita $35,548[3](24th)

GDP(nominal) 2012 estimate

- Total $2.609 trillion[3](5th)

- Per capita $41,141[3](23rd)

Gini(2008) 32.7[4]

medium

HDI(2013) 0.893[5]

very high20th

Currency

Euro[note 6]

CFP franc[note 7]

(EUR, XPF)

Time zone CET[note 8](UTC+1)

- Summer(DST) CEST[note 9](UTC+2)

Drives on the right

Calling code 33[note 10]

ISO 3166 code FR

Internet TLD .fr[note 11]

a. ExcludingAdlie Land in Antarctica, where sovereignty is suspended.

France (English i/frns/FRANSSor/frns/FRAHNSS;French:[fs]( listen)), officially the French

Republic(French:Rpublique franaiseFrenchpronunciation:[epyblik fsz]), is aunitarysemi-

presidentialrepublicinWestern Europe,

[note 12]

with severaloverseas regions and territories.MetropolitanFranceextends from theMediterranean Seato theEnglish Channeland theNorth Sea, and from theRhineto

theAtlantic Ocean. It is one of three countries (Morocco,Spain) to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean
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coastlines. From its shape, it is often referred to in French as lHexagone ("TheHexagon"). It is a member of

theEuropean Union.

France is the largest country in Western Europe and the third-largest in Europe as a whole. It possesses the

second-largestexclusive economic zonein the world. France has been amajor powerwith

strongcultural,economic,military, andpoliticalinfluence in Europe and around the world.[6]

France has its main

ideals expressed in the 18th-centuryDeclaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. In the 19th and early

20th centuries, France built thesecond-largest colonial empireof the time, ruling large portions of firstNorth

AmericaandIndiaand thenNorthwestandCentral Africa;Madagascar;Indochinaand southeastChina; and

manyCaribbeanandPacific Islands.

France is adeveloped country,[7]

possessing the world'sfifth-largestand Europe'ssecond-largesteconomy

bynominal GDP. It is also the world'sninth-largestbyGDP at purchasing power parity.[8]

France is the

wealthiest nation in Europe and the fourth-wealthiest in the world in aggregate household wealth.[9]French

citizens enjoy a highstandard of living, highpublic education level, and one of the world's longestlife

expectancies.[10]

France has been listed as the world's "best overall health care" provider by the World Health

Organization.[11]

It is the most-visited country in the world, receiving 79.5 million foreign tourists annually.[12]

France has the world'sfifth-largest nominal military budget,[13]

as well as (in terms of personnel) the largest

military in theEU,[citation needed]

the third-largest deployable force inNATO, and the26th-largest militaryin the

world. France also possesses the third-largest stockpile ofnuclear weaponsin the world[14]

with around 300

active warheads as of 25 May 2010 and theworld's second-largest diplomatic corps(behind theUnited

States).[15]

France is a founding member of theUnited Nations, one of the fivepermanent members of the UN

Security Council, and a member of theFrancophonie, theG8,G20, NATO,OECD,WTO, and theLatin Union.

It is also a founding and leadingmember state of the European Unionand the largest EU state by area.[16]

In

2013, France was listed 20th on theHuman Development Indexand, in 2010, 24th on theCorruption

Perceptions Index.

Contents

[hide]

1 Etymology

2 History

o 2.1 Prehistory

o 2.2 Gaul

o 2.3 Kingdom of Francia (3rd century843)

o 2.4 Kingdom of France (8431791)

o 2.5 Republics and Empires (1792-)

3 Geography

o 3.1 Environment

4 Administrative divisions

o 4.1 Metropolitan regions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexagonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexagonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexagonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_economic_zonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_economic_zonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_economic_zonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Armed_Forceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Armed_Forceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Armed_Forceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_the_Rights_of_Man_and_of_the_Citizenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_the_Rights_of_Man_and_of_the_Citizenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_the_Rights_of_Man_and_of_the_Citizenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_colonial_empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_colonial_empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_colonial_empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_West_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_West_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_West_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Equatorial_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Equatorial_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Equatorial_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Madagascarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Madagascarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Madagascarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Indochinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Indochinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Indochinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_West_Indieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_West_Indieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_West_Indieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Polynesiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Polynesiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Polynesiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_in_Europe_by_GDP_(nominal)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_in_Europe_by_GDP_(nominal)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_in_Europe_by_GDP_(nominal)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominal_GDPhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominal_GDPhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominal_GDPhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDP_at_purchasing_power_parityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDP_at_purchasing_power_parityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_livinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_livinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_livinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-tourism.stat-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-tourism.stat-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-tourism.stat-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditureshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditureshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-SIPRI_Yearbook_2012-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-SIPRI_Yearbook_2012-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-SIPRI_Yearbook_2012-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATOhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATOhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATOhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_military_and_paramilitary_personnelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_military_and_paramilitary_personnelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_military_and_paramilitary_personnelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weaponshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weaponshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weaponshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Department_(US)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Department_(US)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Department_(US)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Department_(US)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_members_of_the_United_Nations_Security_Councilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_members_of_the_United_Nations_Security_Councilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_members_of_the_United_Nations_Security_Councilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_members_of_the_United_Nations_Security_Councilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_internationale_de_la_Francophoniehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_internationale_de_la_Francophoniehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_internationale_de_la_Francophoniehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-20_major_economieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-20_major_economieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-20_major_economieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_for_Economic_Co-operation_and_Developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_for_Economic_Co-operation_and_Developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_for_Economic_Co-operation_and_Developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_state_of_the_European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_state_of_the_European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_state_of_the_European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-superficy-28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-superficy-28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-superficy-28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Prehistoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Prehistoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Gaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Gaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Kingdom_of_Francia_.283rd_century.E2.80.93843.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Kingdom_of_Francia_.283rd_century.E2.80.93843.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Kingdom_of_Francia_.283rd_century.E2.80.93843.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Kingdom_of_Francia_.283rd_century.E2.80.93843.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Kingdom_of_France_.28843.E2.80.931791.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Kingdom_of_France_.28843.E2.80.931791.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Kingdom_of_France_.28843.E2.80.931791.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Kingdom_of_France_.28843.E2.80.931791.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Republics_and_Empires_.281792-.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Republics_and_Empires_.281792-.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Environmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Environmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Administrative_divisionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Administrative_divisionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Metropolitan_regionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Metropolitan_regionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Metropolitan_regionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Administrative_divisionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Environmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Republics_and_Empires_.281792-.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Kingdom_of_France_.28843.E2.80.931791.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Kingdom_of_Francia_.283rd_century.E2.80.93843.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Gaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Prehistoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-superficy-28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_state_of_the_European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_for_Economic_Co-operation_and_Developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-20_major_economieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_internationale_de_la_Francophoniehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_members_of_the_United_Nations_Security_Councilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_members_of_the_United_Nations_Security_Councilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Department_(US)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Department_(US)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weaponshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_military_and_paramilitary_personnelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATOhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-SIPRI_Yearbook_2012-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditureshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-tourism.stat-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_Indexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_livinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDP_at_purchasing_power_parityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominal_GDPhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_in_Europe_by_GDP_(nominal)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Polynesiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_West_Indieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Indochinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Madagascarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Equatorial_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_West_Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_colonial_empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_the_Rights_of_Man_and_of_the_Citizenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Armed_Forceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_economic_zonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexagon



o 4.2 Overseas regions

o 4.3 Overseas territories and collectivities

5 Governance

o 5.1 Government

o 5.2 Law

o 5.3 Foreign relations

o 5.4 Military

o 5.5 Government finance

5.5.1 French government debt

6 Economy

o 6.1 Agriculture

o 6.2 Labour market

o 6.3 Tourism

o 6.4 Transport

7 Demographics

o 7.1 Language

o 7.2 Religion

o 7.3 Health

o 7.4 Education

8 Culture

o 8.1 Art

o 8.2 Architecture

o 8.3 Literature

o 8.4 Philosophy

o 8.5 Sciences

o 8.6 Music

o 8.7 Cinema

o 8.8 Fashion

o 8.9 Media

o 8.10 Society

o 8.11 Gastronomy

o 8.12 Sports

9 Footnotes

10 References

11 External links

Etymology

Main article:Name of France
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Overseas_regionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Overseas_regionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Overseas_territories_and_collectivitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Overseas_territories_and_collectivitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Governancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Governancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Foreign_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Foreign_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Militaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Militaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Government_financehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Government_financehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#French_government_debthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#French_government_debthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Labour_markethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Labour_markethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Tourismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Tourismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Transporthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Transporthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Demographicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Demographicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Scienceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Scienceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Cinemahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Cinemahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Fashionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Fashionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Mediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Mediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Societyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Societyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Gastronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Gastronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Sportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Sportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Footnoteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Footnoteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Footnoteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Sportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Gastronomyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Societyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Mediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Fashionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Cinemahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Scienceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Demographicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Transporthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Tourismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Labour_markethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Agriculturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#French_government_debthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Government_financehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Militaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Foreign_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Governmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Governancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Overseas_territories_and_collectivitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#Overseas_regions



The name "France" comes from theLatinFrancia, which means "country of theFranks".[17]

There are various

theories as to the origin of the name of the Franks. One is that it is derived from theProto-

Germanicword frankon which translates asjavelin orlance as the throwing axe of the Franks was known as

afrancisca.[18]

Another proposed etymology is that in an ancientGermanic language, Frank meansfreeas

opposed toslave.

History

Main article:History of France

Prehistory

Main article:Prehistory of France

One of the paintings ofLascauxwhich represents a horse (Dordogne, approximately 18,000 BC).

The oldest traces of human life in what is now France date from approximately 1,800,000 years ago.[19]

Men

were then confronted by a hard and variable climate, marked by several glacial eras which modified their

framework of life and led them to anomadiclife ofhunters-gatherers.[19]

France counts a large number of

decorated caves from theupper Paleolithicera, including one of the most famous and best

preserved:Lascaux[19]

(Dordogne, approximately 18,000 BC).

At the end of theLast glacial period(10,000 BC), the climate softened[19]

and from approximately 7,000 BC, this

part of Western Europe entered theNeolithicera and its inhabitants becamesedentary. After a strong

demographic and agricultural development between the 4th and 3rd millennia, metallurgy appeared at the end

of the 3rd millennium, initially with the work of gold, copper and bronze, and later with iron .[20]

France counts

numerousmegalithicsites from the Neolithic period, including the exceptionally dense Carnac stonessite

(Morbihan, approximately 3,300 BC).

Gaul

Main articles:Gaul,Celts, andRoman Gaul
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Gaul, 1st century BC. Gallic territory inhabited byCeltsextends to what is now France, Belgium, Switzerland, the parts of

the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine, and parts of Northern Italy.

TheMaison Carrewas a temple of theGallo-Romancity of Nemausus (present-dayNmes) and is one of the best preserved

vestiges of theRoman Empire.

In 600 BC,IonianGreeks, originating fromPhocaea, founded thecolony of Massalia(present-dayMarseille), on

the shores of theMediterranean Sea, making it the oldest city of France.[21][22]

At the same time, some Gallic

Celtic tribes penetrated some parts of the current territory of France, but this occupation spread in the rest of

France only between the 5th and 3rd century BC.[23]

The concept ofGaulemerged at that time; it corresponds to the territories of Celtic settlement ranging between

theRhine, theAtlantic Ocean, thePyreneesand the Mediterranean Sea. The borders of modern France are

approximately the same as those of ancient Gaul, which was inhabited byCelticGauls. Gaul was then a

prosperous country, of which the southernmost part was heavily subject to Greek and Roman influences.

However, around 390 BC, the GallicchieftainBrennusand his troops made their way to Italy through theAlps,

defeated the Romans in theBattle of the Allia, and besieged andransomedRome.

The Gallic invasion left Rome weakened and encouraged several subdued Italian tribes to rebel. One by one,

over the course of the next 50 years, these tribes were defeated and brought back under Roman dominion.

The Gauls continued to harass the region until 345 BC, when they entered into a formal peace treaty with

Rome. But the Romans and the Gauls would maintain an adversarial relationship for the next several centuries

and the Gauls would remain a threat inItalia.

Around 125 BC, the south of Gaul was conquered by the Romans, who called this region Provincia

Romana ("Roman Province"), which over time evolved into the nameProvencein French.[24]

Brennus' siege of
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an_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marseillehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_colonieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phocaeahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greeks_in_pre-Roman_Gaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ioniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%AEmeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo-Roman_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maison_Carr%C3%A9ehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celts



Rome was still remembered by Romans, whenJulius Caesarconquered the remainder of Gaul and overcame

a revolt carried out by the Gallic chieftainVercingetorixin 52 BC.[25]

Gaul was divided byAugustusinto Roman provinces, the principal ones beingGallia Narbonensisin the

south,Gallia Aquitaniain the south-west,Gallia Lugdunensisin the center andGallia Belgicain the

north.[26]

Many cities were founded during theGallo-Roman period, including Lugdunum (present-dayLyon),

which is considered to be the capital of the Gauls.[26]

These cities were built in the traditional Roman style, with

aforum, a theatre, acircus, anamphitheatreandthermal baths. The Gauls mixed with Roman settlers and

eventually adoptedRomanspeech (Latin, from which the French language evolved) and Roman culture.

TheRoman polytheismmerged with theGallic paganisminto the samesyncretism.

From the 250s to the 280s of 3rd century AD, Roman Gaul suffered a serious crisis with its "limes" or fortified

borders protecting the Empire being attacked on several occasions byBarbarians.[27]

Theweakness of the

central imperial power, at this time, led Gallo-Roman leaders to proclaim the independence of the short-

livedGallic Empire,[27]

which ended with theBattle of Chlonsin 274, which saw Gaul reincorporated in the

Roman Empire.

Nevertheless, the situation improved in the first half of the 4th century, which was a period of revival and

prosperity for Roman Gaul.[28]

In 312, the emperorConstantin Iconverted to Christianity. Christians, persecuted

until then, increased rapidly across the entire Roman Empire.[29]

But, from the beginning of the 5th century,

theBarbarian Invasionsresumed,[30]

andGermanic tribes, such as theVandals,SuebiandAlanscrossed the

Rhine and settled in Gaul, Spain and other parts of thecollapsing Roman Empire.[31]

The Visigoths were settled

in SW Gaul in 417.

Kingdom of Francia (3rd century

843)

Main articles:Kingdom of the Franks,Merovingian dynasty, andCarolingian dynasty

See also:List of French monarchsandFrance in the Middle Ages

Frankish expansion from the earlyClovis I' kingdom (481) to the divisions ofCharlemagne's Empire(843/870).

At the end of theAntiquityperiod, ancient Gaul was divided into several Germanic kingdoms (Early

Francia(North),Alamannia(North-East),Burgundia(East),Septimania(South),Visigothic Aquitania(South

East)) and a remaining Gallo-Roman territory, known as theKingdom of Syagrius(West).

Simultaneously,Celtic Britons, fleeing theAnglo-Saxon invasionofBritannia, settled the western part

ofArmorica(far West of Gaul). As a result, the Armoricanpeninsulawas renamedBrittany,Celtic culturewas

revived and independentpetty kingdomsarose in this region.
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ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_the_Frankshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_the_Frankshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_the_Frankshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merovingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merovingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merovingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_monarchshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_monarchshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_monarchshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_in_the_Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_in_the_Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_in_the_Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Antiquityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Antiquityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Antiquityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francia#Originshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francia#Originshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francia#Originshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francia#Originshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamanniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamanniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamanniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgundianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgundianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgundianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septimaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septimaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septimaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visigothic_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visigothic_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visigothic_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_of_Soissonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_of_Soissonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_of_Soissonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britons_(historical)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britons_(historical)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britons_(historical)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_invasion_of_Britainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_invasion_of_Britainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_invasion_of_Britainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Britainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Britainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Britainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armoricahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armoricahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armoricahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_peninsulashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_peninsulashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_peninsulashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petty_kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petty_kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petty_kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Franks_expansion.gifhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Franks_expansion.gifhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Franks_expansion.gifhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Franks_expansion.gifhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petty_kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_peninsulashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armoricahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Britainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxon_invasion_of_Britainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britons_(historical)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_of_Soissonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visigothic_Kingdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septimaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgundianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamanniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francia#Originshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francia#Originshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Antiquityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_in_the_Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_monarchshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merovingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_the_Frankshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_of_the_Roman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suebihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandalshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_peopleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-42http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migration_Periodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Greathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-40http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ch%C3%A2lons_(274)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-c77-39http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallic_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_of_the_Third_Centuryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_of_the_Third_Centuryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-c77-39http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbarianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syncretismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_polytheismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_ancient_Romehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_bathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphitheatrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Forumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-c53-38http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Gaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-c53-38http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallia_Belgicahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallia_Lugdunensishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallia_Aquitaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallia_Narbonensishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-37http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vercingetorixhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar



The paganFranks, from whom the ancient name of "Francie" was derived, originally settled the northern part

ofGaul, but underClovis Iconquered most of the other kingdoms in northern and central Gaul. In 498, Clovis I

was the first Germanic conqueror after the fall of the Roman Empire to convert to Catholic Christianity, rather

thanArianism; thus France was given the title "Eldest daughter of the Church" (French:La fille ane de

lglise) by the papacy,[32]and the French kings would be called "the Most Christian Kings of France" ( Rex

Christianissimus).

WithClovis' conversion to Catholicism in 498, theFrankish monarchy,electiveandsecularuntil then, becamehereditaryand

ofdivine right.

The Franks embraced the ChristianGallo-Roman heritageand ancient Gaul was eventually

renamedFrancia("Land of the Franks"). The Germanic Franks adoptedRomanic languages, except in

northern Gaul where Roman settlements were less dense and whereGermanic languagesemerged. Clovis

made Paris his capital and established theMerovingian dynasty, but his kingdom would not survive his death.

The Franks treated land purely as a private possession and divided it among their heirs, so four kingdoms

emerged from Clovis's: Paris,Orlans,Soissons, andRheims.

The last Merovingian kings, sometimes referred asRois fainants("lazy kings"),effectively lost powerto

theirmayors of the palace. One mayor of the palace,Charles Martel, defeated aMuslim invasionforce

fromHispaniaat theBattle of Tours(732) and earned respect and power within the Frankish kingdoms. His

son,Pepin the Short, eventually seized the crown of Francia from the weakened Merovingians and founded

theCarolingian dynasty. Pepin's son,Charlemagne, reunited the Frankish kingdoms and built a vast empire

acrossWesternand Central Europe.

ProclaimedHoly Roman EmperorbyPope Leo IIIand thus establishing in earnest the French government's

longtimehistorical associationwith theRoman Catholic Church,[33]

Charlemagne tried to revive theWestern

Roman Empireand its cultural grandeur, from hisPalace of Aachen. The efficient administration of this

immense empire was ensured by high-level civil servants, carrying the, then non-hereditary, titles ofcounts(in

charge of a County),marquis(in charge ofaMarch),dukes(military commanders), etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#cite_note-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Frankish_kingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Frankish_kingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Frankish_kingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elective_monarchyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elective_monarchyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elective_monarchyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_statehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_statehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_statehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereditary_monarchyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereditary_monarchyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereditary_monarchyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_right_of_kingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_right_of_kingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_right_of_kingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo-Roman_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo-Roman_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo-Roman_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franciahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franciahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franciahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merovingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merovingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merovingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orl%C3%A9anshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orl%C3%A9anshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orl%C3%A9anshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soissonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soissonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soissonshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reimshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reimshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reimshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roi_fain%C3%A9anthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roi_fain%C3%A9anthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roi_fain%C3%A9anthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_behind_the_thronehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_behind_the_thronehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_behind_the_thronehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_the_Palacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_the_Palacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_the_Palacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Martelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Martelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Martelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_invasion_of_Gaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_invasion_of_Gaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_invasion_of_Gaulhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_conquest_of_Hispaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_conquest_of_Hispaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_conquest_of_Hispaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tourshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tourshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tourshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepin_the_Shorthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepin_the_Shorthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepin_the_Shorthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_dynastyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_d

france...

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