Île de France

(ēl´de-fräNs´) (pron: eel-deh-frawnz)

Capital: Paris (star on map) (pron: pare-iss)
France (original state): 987

Pays de-France became the nucleus of the crown lands when Hugh Capet, Count of Paris, became the French king.  The name was changed to Île de France in 1387.