Editing Languedoc (section)

==Old administrative divisions==
The governors of Languedoc resided in [[Pézenas]], near to the Mediterranean coast, away from [[Toulouse]] but close to [[Montpellier]]. In time they had increased their power well beyond military matters, and had become the real administrators and executive power of the province, a trend seen in the other ''gouvernements'' of France, but particularly acute in Languedoc, where the [[Henri II de Montmorency|duke of Montmorency]], governor of Languedoc, even openly rebelled against the king, then was defeated and beheaded in Toulouse in 1632 by the order of [[Cardinal Richelieu|Richelieu]]. The kings of France became fearful of the power of the governors, so after King [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] (the Sun King) they had to reside in [[Palace of Versailles|Versailles]] and were forbidden to enter the territory of their ''gouvernement''. Thus the ''gouvernements'' became hollow structures, but they still carried a sense of the old provinces, and so their names and limits have remained popular until today.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

[[Image:Abside et clocher de St Sernin.jpg|thumb|[[Saint-Sernin Basilica]] in [[Toulouse]], displaying the typical pink brick architecture of Upper Languedoc.]]
For administrative purposes, Languedoc was divided in two ''[[généralité]]s'', the ''généralité'' of Toulouse and the ''généralité'' of Montpellier, the combined territory of the two generalities exactly matching that of the ''gouvernement'' of Languedoc. At the head of a generality was an ''[[intendant]]'', but in the case of Languedoc there was only one ''intendant'' responsible for both generalities, and he was often referred to as the ''intendant'' of Languedoc, even though technically speaking he was in fact the ''intendant'' of the generality of Toulouse and ''intendant'' of the generality of Montpellier. The generality of Toulouse is also referred to as Upper Languedoc (''Haut-Languedoc''), while the generality of Montpellier, down to the level of the sea, is referred to as Lower Languedoc (''Bas-Languedoc''). The ''intendants'' of Languedoc resided in Montpellier, and they had a sub-delegate in Toulouse. Montpellier was chosen on purpose to diminish the power of Toulouse, whose ''[[parlement]]'' was very influential, and which symbolized the old spirit of independence of the [[History of Toulouse|county of Toulouse]]. The ''intendants'' replaced the governors as administrators of Languedoc, but appointed and dismissed at will by the king, they were no threat to the central state in [[Palace of Versailles|Versailles]]. By 1789 they were the most important element of the local administration of the kingdom.

For judicial and legislative matters, Languedoc was overseen by the [[Parlement of Toulouse]], founded in the middle of the 15th century. It was the first ''parlement'' created outside of Paris by the kings of France in order to be the equivalent of the ''Parlement'' of Paris in the far-away southern territories of the kingdom. The jurisdiction of the ''Parlement'' of Toulouse included the whole of the territory of the ''gouvernement'' of Languedoc, but it also included the province of [[Rouergue]], most of the province of [[Quercy]], and a part of [[Gascony]]. The ''Parlement'' of Toulouse was the supreme court of justice for this vast area of France, the court of last resort whose rulings could not be appealed, not even to the ''Parlement'' of Paris. The ''Parlement'' of Toulouse could also create case law through its decisions, as well as interpret the law. It was also in charge of registering new royal edicts and laws, and could decide to block them if it found them to be in contravention with the liberties and laws of Languedoc.

Finally, for purposes of taxation, Languedoc was ruled by the States of Languedoc, whose jurisdiction included only Languedoc proper (and [[Albigeois]]), but not [[Gévaudan]], [[Velay]], and [[Vivarais]], which kept each their own provincial states until 1789. Languedoc proper was one of the very few provinces of France which had the privilege to decide over tax matters, the kings of France having suppressed the provincial states in most other provinces of the kingdom. This was a special favor from the kings to ensure that an independently spirited region far-away from [[Palace of Versailles|Versailles]] would remain faithful to the central state. The States of Languedoc met in many different cities, and for some time they established themselves in [[Pézenas]], but in the 18th century they were relocated definitively to [[Montpellier]], where they met once a year, until 1789.

For Christian religious purposes, Languedoc was also divided into a certain number of ecclesiastical provinces, including the [[archdiocese of Toulouse]], the [[Ancient Diocese of Narbonne|archdiocese of Narbonne]], and the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Albi|archdiocese of Albi]].