Saintonge, region of W France, on the Bay of Biscay. It is now part of the Charente-Maritime dept. Cattle and sheep raising, dairying, and the manufacture of cognac from grapes grown along the Charente River are the major occupations; oysters are harvested along the coast. Known as the country of Santones, the region was conquered by the Romans and was occupied (419) by the Visigoths and by Clovis I (507). As a fief of Aquitaine, it became part of England (1154) following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry of Anjou (later Henry II of England). During the Wars of Religion (1562-98), Saintonge was a Protestant stronghold, especially at the city of La Rochelle. The region was incorporated (1372) into the French crown lands, and was a French province until the Revolution (1789).

Saintonge is a small region on the Atlantic coast of France within the département Charente-Maritime, west and south of Charente in the administrative region of Poitou-Charentes. It derives its name from the ancient Gallic tribe of the Santones who lived in this area, around the current city of Saintes.

The Saintonge was the center of the French Huguenots. Today, the region is famous for its production of the grapes that are used to produce cognac and Pineau des Charentes.

It was the birthplace of the explorer Jean Allefonsce and Samuel de Champlain who founded Quebec.

Saintongeais (patouê saintonjhouê, jhabrail) Patois Charentais is spoken in the former provinces d'Aunis, and Saintonge Angoumois

Pottery

This area is also famous for its widely exported medieval pottery, sherds of which are found in large quantities on medieval excavations throughout Ireland and other European countries. These sherds are from vessels made and exported as a by-product of the Bordeaux wine trade (Deroeux and Dufournier, 1991). They consist of an off-white micaceous fabric with moderate amounts of quartz and sparse inclusions of haematite. They are glazed on the external surface only, with a clear lead glaze, to which the addition of copper filings produces a mottled mid-green colouring. Many forms of saintonge pottery were produced, including Saintonge polychrome, all-over green, and in some cases unglazed wares.

The most common forms of vessel produced in this ware were wine jugs. These were characteristically tall, with slightly ovoid bodies, flat bases, parrot-beak spouts and strap handles.

This ware has been found on Irish excavations from the later 12th century but it is most commonly uncovered in 13th century contexts.

See also

• Saintonge Regiment

References

Deroeux, D and Dufournier, D. 1991. ‘Réflexions sur la diffusion de la céramique treś decorée d’origine francaise en Europe du Nord-Ouest XIII-XIV siécles, Archéologie Médiévale 21, p163-77.