French Hainaut (French:Hainaut français[ɛnofʁɑ̃sɛ]) is one of two areas inFrance that form thedépartement du Nord, making up its eastern part. It corresponds roughly with theArrondissement of Avesnes-sur-Helpe (east), theArrondissement of Cambrai (south-west) and theArrondissement of Valenciennes (north-west).[1]
Until the 17th century, it was an integral part of theCounty of Hainaut, ruled by theHouse of Valois-Burgundy and later by theHouse of Habsburg. In a series of wars between France and Spain, this southern part of Hainaut was conquered by France, together with the adjacentCambrésis, orBishopric of Cambrai, to its south-west, and southern Flanders, which borders theEnglish Channel, to its west. Together, these formed theFrench province of Flanders which, following theFrench Revolution, became the newNord département.[1]
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