- Septimania was a region of France corresponding to the previous Roman Province of Gallia Narbonensis. It’s capital was Narbonne.
- The region stretched to the Rhone in the East, the Garonne and Massif Central in the West and the Pyrenees in the South.
History
- The name may have been derived from the seven cities of Narbonne, Agde, Beziers, Nimes, Elne, Lodeve and Maguelonne. Or it may derive from the name of the Roman Legio VII who’s veterans were settled at Nimes.
- It was first acquired from the Romans by the Visigoths who had already been allowed to settled in Aquitaine by the Roman Emperor Avitus (455-456 CE).
- After 462 CE Ricimer allowed the Visigoths to takeover the entire territory.
- In 463 CE, the Visigoths launched an attack on the Kingdom of Soissons but were defeated at the Battle of Orleans (463 CE).
- In 719 CE Septimania was occupied by the Arab Empire from Spain. Despite Charles Martel’s success at the Battle of Poitiers in 732 CE, Septimania resisted until Narbonne fell in 759 CE to Pippin the Younger, his son.
- Under Charlemagne (800-814 CE), the name of the Region changed to Gothia, and the Rulers were known either as the Marquesses of Gothia or the Dukes of Septimania.
- By the tenth century CE, the name Languedoc had replaced the name Septimania.
Narbonne