Artois
Artois is also a city in California, USA. See Artois, California.Artois () is a former
province of northern
France. Its territory has an area of around 4000 km² and a population of about a million. Its principal cities are
Arras,
Calais,
Boulogne-sur-Mer,
Saint-Omer,
Lens and
Béthune.
Artois occupies the interior of the
Pas-de-Calais département, the western part of which constitutes the former
Boulonnais. It occupies the western end of the
coalfield which stretches eastward through the neighbouring
Nord département and across central
Belgium.
Originally a feudal county itself, Artois was annexed by the
county of Flanders. It came to France in
1180 as a dowry of a Flemish princess and was again made a
separate county in
1237 for a grandson of that princess. Through inheritance, Artois came under the rule of the
dukes of Burgundy in
1384. At the death of the fourth duke,
Charles the Rash, Artois became a possession of the
Habsburgs, and was made part of the inheritance of the
Habsburgs of Spain. As a result of war, it became a French province in
1659.
Artois experienced rapid industrial development during the second half of the
19th century, fueled by its rich
coal resources. During
World War I the front line between the opposing German and British armies in France ran through the province, resulting in enormous physical damage. In recent decades Artois has suffered with similar areas through the decline of the coal industry.
*
Communauté d'agglomération de l'Artois*
Battle of Artois*
County of Artois
