The history of Lorraine is intertwined with that of its neighbour Alsace. Both have been the subjects of constant wars between France and Germany, spanning over a few centuries.
Lorraine was originally a kingdom in its own right. It was created in 843 when the Carolingian empire was divided between the three sons of Louis the Pious. Named after the new ruler, the Emperor Lothar, it was called Lotharingia. In France, this evolved into Lorraine, while in Germany, it was eventually known as Lothringen.
With the loss of the imperial title and the waning of Carolingian influence, the kingdom lost territories and came under the rule of a duke, thereby reducing the former kingdom to a duchy.
Lorraine came to a turning point in its history when Henri II, King of France took over the Three Bishoprics. Metz, Toul and Verdun became French, two centuries before the Duchy of Lorraine did.
The Francp-Prussian war lasted almost 2 years.The Prussians won on all fronts and annexed both Metz and the German-speaking territories of Lorraine as well as Alsace. These territories remained a part of Germany until the end of World War I, and they were again occupied in 1940 during WW2. This war-torn area was finally liberated and returned to France by General Patton and his army in November 1944. Because of all the fighting in the area, Lorraine is home to the largest American cemetery in France.