Champagne, a district and ancient province of France, surrounded by Luxemburg, Lorraine, Burgundy, Ile de France, and Orléanais; now forming the departments of Marne, Haute-Marne, Aube, and Ardennes, and parts of Yonne, Aisne, Seine-et-Marne, and Meuse. It was popularly divided into Upper and Lower Champagne and Brie Champenoise, and was fertile in its western, barren in its eastern part. Its chief towns were Troyes, Bar-sur-Aube, Leon, and Rheims. The province was about 180 miles long by 150 broad, its surface presenting extensive plains with ranges of hills, especially in the north and east.
In ancient times Champagne was known as a part of Gallia Lugdunensis, was subjugated by Cæsar, and afterwards was annexed to the kingdom established by the Franks. After the 11th century it had its own dukes, who were vassals of the French kings. By the marriage of Philip IV. with Joanna, heiress to the kingdom of Navarre, Champagne, and Brie, Champagne in 1284 came to the French crown, and was incorporated in 1328.