See Also: Nivernais(encyclopedia)

Nivernais (sh)




Historical region, central France.

Originally part of Burgundy, it became a county งใ 10th century. Francis I of France made it a duchy in 1539 for Francis of Cleves. In 1659 it was sold to Cardinal Mazarin. His descendants possessed it until the French Revolution, when it was the last great fief to be reunited to the French crown. During the ancien regime it was administered from Nevers.