Béarn, Viscountcy of

The viscounty of Béarn (Gascon: Bearn or Biarn) is a medieval lordship in the far south of France, part of the Duchy of Gascony from the late ninth century.

In 1347 the viscount refuses to acknowledge the suzerainty of the French king and declares Béarn an independent principality.

It later enters a personal union with the Kingdom of Navarre in 1479 and France in 1589.

In 1620, the king formally incorporatedsBéarn as a province of France.