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Franconia (German: Franken) is a region in southern Germany, characterised by its culture and language, and may be roughly associated with the areas in which the East Franconian dialect group, colloquially referred to as “Franconian” (German: “Fränkisch“), is spoken. The region can be roughly associated with the three administrative regions of Lower, Middle, and Upper Franconia in the state of Bavaria.
Also part of the cultural region of Franconia are the adjacent Franconian-speaking region of South Thuringia, as well as Heilbronn-Franconia in the state of Baden-Württemberg, and small parts of the state of Hesse.
The German word Franken also refers to the ethnic group of Franconians. They are to be distinguished from the Germanic tribe of the Franks, of whom they are but one descendant. The origins of Franconia as a cultural region begins with the settlement of Franks in the Main river area from the 6th century onwards, later becoming known as East Francia (Francia Orientalis). In the Middle Ages the region formed much of the eastern part of the Duchy of Franconia and, beginning in 1500, the Franconian Circle. After the demise of the Holy Roman Empire following the Napoleonic Wars and the subsequential German mediatization, most of Franconia was placed under administration of the emerging Kingdom of Bavaria.
Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia was the ancestral home of many of the German immigrant members of the Friedenberg Church in Perry County, Missouri, USA.
Chapter Franconia vs. Bavaria provides interesting comparisons of the history and culture of Franconia to that of Bavaria.
Information Sources
Derived from Wikipedia – Franconia