Astarac () (or Estarac) is a region in modern-day departments of Gers and Hautes-Pyrénées. It was historically located in Gascony, a county in the Middle Ages. Astarac was formed as a county out of the partition of the Duchy of Gascony: following the death of García II Sánchez of Gascony, the duchy was partitioned between his sons, with Arnold I, the youngest son, receiving Astarac.
Geography
Defined as a natural region, Astarac is located in
Gascony, south of the
Gers and north of the department of Hautes-Pyrénées. Bordering on the Lannemezan plateau, it is a very hilly region with
clay soil, crossed by several rivers including the Baïse,
Arrats and Gers, which have led to the formation of
artificial lakes such as the Lac de l'Astarac.
Astarac borders Armagnac to the northwest, the Rivière-Basse and Bigorre to the west, the to the southeast, and Comminges to the east. Its principal cities are Mirande, Masseube, Miélan, Tournay, Pavie, Idrac-Respaillès, Castelnau-Barbarens, Berdoues, Ponsampère, Mont-d'Astarac, Miramont-d'Astarac, Laas d'Astarac, and Fontrailles.
Demographics
Astarac is a region of scattered settlements.
Economy
Livestock farming is the main form of economic output in this region.
Culture
Astarac is in the area of influence of the
Gascon dialect.
Heraldy
The
French heraldry of Astarac county are
Blazon as follows: quartered sections of
Or (gold/yellow) and
Gules (red). This coat of arms is also used by the House of Astarac.
Etymology
Astarac (in the
Middle Ages:
Asteriacum,
Asteirac) is a priori, like its
homonym Estirac, for a Gallo-Roman domain name based on the local name
Aster (
Uciando Aster , Dato Aster,
Sancio Aster , Atton Aster are documented personal names, the first three in
Bigorre, the fourth in Lézat-sur-Lèze). The village of Asté, near
Beaucens, is an ancient
Aster. Linguist
Joan Coromines likens this name to the
Biscayan dialect word:
azterren, meaning 'root' or 'foundation'.
History
List of counts
Dates should be approached with extreme caution. Usually the exact dates of accession and death are unknown and only
floruit dates can be provided. Further, the sources do not always give the same dates.
Count of Astarac
-
926960 Arnold I Nonat
-
960before 975 , son
-
Before 9751022/23 , son
-
1022/23 – William, son
-
– after 1099 Sancho I, son
-
After 1099 – 1142 , son
-
1142 – bef. 1153 Sancho II, son
-
bef. 1153 – c.1176 Bohemond, brother
-
1174 – 1182 Bernard II, nephew
-
1183 – ???? Marquesa, cousin, co-countess
-
1183 – ???? Beatrice, sister, co-countess
-
???? – 1233 Centule I, son
-
1233 – 1249 Centule II, son
-
1249 – 1291 Bernard III, brother
-
1291 – 1300 Centule III, son
-
1300 – 1324 Bernard IV, son
-
1324 – 1326 Bernard V, son
-
1326 – 1331 Amanieu, brother
-
1331 – 1363 Centule IV, son
-
1363 – 1403 John I, son
-
1398 – 1410 John II, son
-
1410 – 1458 John III, son
-
1458 – 1511 John IV, son
-
1511 – 1569 Martha, daughter
Count of Astarac, Candale and Benauges
-
1511 – 1536 Gaston, husband
-
???? – 1528 Charles, son
-
1528 John I, brother
-
1528 – 1571 Frederick, brother
-
1571 John II, son
-
1571 – 1572 Henry, son
-
1572 – 1593 Margaret, daughter
Sources
