Dauphin

Dauphin is a historical title used for the heir apparent to the throne of France from the mid-14th century until the end of the monarchy. The name derives from the dolphin emblem historically associated with the Dauphiné, a mountainous region in southeastern France. The heir to the French crown was formally designated as the Dauphin and used a dolphin on the royal arms, linking the crown to the regional symbol.

Origin and usage: In 1349, the French crown acquired the sovereignty of the Dauphiné from the Lords of Viennois, with the stipulation that the crown’s heir would bear the title Dauphin. The title passed to successive heirs for centuries, serving as the official designation of the crown prince. After the French Revolution and the abolition of the monarchy, formal use of the title ceased, though the term persists in historical references and royalist discourse.

Dauphiné region and people: The Dauphiné region lies in southeastern France, surrounding Grenoble in the Alpine foothills. It is a historic province that today corresponds to parts of the Isère and Drôme departments. The residents of the Dauphiné are called Dauphinois or Dauphinoise. The term remains embedded in place names and regional memory, reflecting the long association between the territory and the French crown.

Other uses: Beyond the royal title, Dauphin appears in geography and culture. Dauphin is the name of a town in Manitoba, Canada, and of Dauphin Island in Alabama, United States. In French, dauphin also means the dolphin, a connection that survives in heraldry and in English usage through the historical term for the French heir.