historical region of SW France: orig., a division of Gaul; later, a duchy under the French crown, passed to English control when Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry II; returned to France after Hundred Years' War
metropolitan region of modern France of much smaller size: 15,949 sq mi (41,308 sq km); pop. 2,796,000; chief city, Bordeaux
A historical region of southwest France between the Pyrenees and the Garonne River. The duchy of Aquitaine was joined with France after the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to King Louis VII in 1137, but its possession was disputed after her subsequent marriage to Henry II of England.