Counts of Toulouse

The Counts of Toulouse were powerful noble leaders in the medieval region of Toulouse, in what is now southern France. They ruled from the 9th to the 13th centuries and were significant in the development of the Occitan culture and language. The Counts played a key role in regional politics, often clashing with both the French crown and the Catholic Church. Their influence extended over trade and governance, and they were involved in the Crusades. Eventually, their power diminished, especially after Toulouse was annexed by the French crown in the early 13th century, marking the end of their rule.