Gascony

Formerly a district in the southwest of France, situated between the Bay of Biscay, the river Garonne, and the Western Pyrenees. It derived its name from the Basques, or Vasques (Lat. Vascones ), who, driven by the Visigoths from their own territory on the southern slope of the Western Pyrenees, cro ed to the northern side, and settled here. In 602, after an obstinate resistance, the Vasques were forced to submit to the Franks. They now pa ed under the sovereignty of the dukes of A quit an i a, who for a time were independent of the crown, but were afterwards conquered by King Pepin, and later by Charlemagne. Subsequently it became incorporated with A quit an i a, and for a time became part of the English po e ions, but was afterwards reconquered by the French.