metropolitan region of modern France, in the same general area: 4,638 sq mi (12,012 sq km); pop. 10,661,000; chief city, Paris
See ÃŽle-de-France in American Heritage Dictionary 4
A historical region and former province of north-central France in the Paris basin. In 987 the ÃŽle-de-France became the nucleus of the crown lands when Hugh Capet, Count of Paris, became the French king.