The Dauphiné, or Dauphiné Viennois, was originally…

The Dauphiné, or Dauphiné Viennois, was originally the County of Albon, but the counts had taken the title Dauphin (dolphin), from which the region gets its name.

It became a state of the Holy Roman Empire in the eleventh century.

The Dauphiné is best known for its transfer from the last non-royal Dauphin (Humbert II, who has great debts and no direct heir) to the King of France, Philip IV, in 1349.

The terms of the transfer stipulate that the heir apparent of France will henceforth be called le Dauphin and include significant autonomy and tax exemption for the Dauphiné region.