Dauphin (Lat. Delphinus), formerly the title of the eldest son of the French king, was originally that of the sovereign lords of the province of Dauphiné, who bore a dolphin as their crest. The last of these, the childless Humbert III., in 1343 bequeathed his possessions to Charles of Valois, grandson of Philippe VI. of France, on condition that the eldest son of the king of France should bear the title of Dauphin of Vienne, and govern the province. As late as the time of Louis
XI, the dauphin exercised almost sovereign rights; but after his time these were gradually abridged, until Dauphiné was placed under the same laws as the rest of the kingdom, and the title became merely honorary. After the revolution of 1830, it was abolished altogether. See DELPHIN CLASSICS.