Provence

Provence, an old province of the S.E. of France, now divided into the departments of Basses-Alpes, Bouches-du-Rhone, Var, and part of Vaucluse. It formed the Provincia of the Romans, and at the disruption of the Empire fell into the hands, first of the Visigoths, next of the Ostrogoths, and was then conquered by Clovis. In 879 Boson, the governor, caused himself to be elected king, and founded a dynasty which lasted until 1481, when Louis XI. united the territory to France. Possessing for the most part a fertile soil and enjoying a fine climate, Provence produces almost all the vegetables and fruits of Europe. The mineral wealth is considerable, but remains undeveloped. The Provencal troubadours exercised a considerable influence on French poetry.