:
Regions relating to Lower Normandy: Gallia Lugdunensis, Neustria, and Normandy. The traditional province of Normandy, with an integral history reaching back to the 10th century, was divided in 1956 into two regions: Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy. During the Roman era, the region was divided into several different city-states. That of
Vieux was excavated in the 17th century, revealing numerous structures and vestiges bearing testimony to the prosperity of the
Caen region. The region was conquered by the
Franks in the 5th century. In the 9th century, the
Norman conquests devastated the region. Much of the territory of Lower Normandy was added to the Duchy of Normandy in the 10th century. In 1066,
Duke William Il of Normandy conquered
England. He was buried in Caen. After his death, Normandy went to his eldest son and
England went to his second son, separating the two possessions. and Marie Louise attending a
naval review in
Cherbourg in 1811 The victory of
Tinchebray in 1106 gave Normandy to the kings of
England again. Nearly one hundred years later, in 1204, King
Philip II Augustus of France conquered the region, apart from the
Channel Islands. Then, during the
Hundred Years' War, it was regained by the
Plantagenets. However, the French recovered the mainland part of the region between 1436 and 1450. By 1453, the
French monarchy controlled much of modern France apart from
Calais, which remained in English hands. During the
Second World War, the main thrust of
Operation Overlord was focused on Lower Normandy. The beaches of Calvados were the site of the
D-Day landings in June 1944. Lower Normandy suffered badly during the War, with many of its towns and villages being destroyed or badly damaged during the
Battle of Normandy. ==Economy==