County of Toulouse

The County of Toulouse was a significant political and cultural region in medieval France, established around the 9th century. It centered on the city of Toulouse and was influential due to its strategic location and economic vitality. The county was ruled by powerful counts who navigated complex relationships with the French crown and other local lords. Toulouse became a center of trade, scholarship, and the Cathar religious movement. By the 13th century, following the Albigensian Crusade, the county was gradually annexed by the French crown, shaping the region's future and contributing to France’s expansion.