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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

Dauphiné region and people: The Dauphiné region lies in southeastern France, surrounding Grenoble in the Alpine

Other uses: Beyond the royal title, Dauphin appears in geography and culture. Dauphin is the name of

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historical
references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.
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.
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.