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The national flag of Acadia , adopted in 1884.

Acadia (in French Acadie), named after the mythical Arcadia, was the name given by the French to a territory including today's Canadian Maritime provinces and part of modern-day New England stretching as far south as today's Philadelphia (the 40th to 46th parallel). Later, the territory was divided under British rule into American states and Canadian provinces.

The territory's first European colonists, who would later become known as Acadians, were French subjects primarily from the Pleumartin to PoitiersPoitiers (population 85,000) is a city and commune in central France, prefecture (capital) of the Vienne departement''. Located on the Clain river. History Poitiers was founded before Roman influence by the Pictones tribe. The Battle of Poitiers was fough area of France. The first French settlement was established by Pierre Dugua, Sieur de MontsPierre Dugua the Sieur de Monts ( 1558 1628) was a merchant, explorer and colonizer. He was born in Saintonge, France and had a great influence over the first two decades of the 17th century. He may have travelled to northeastern North America for the fir, Governor of AcadiaNameTerm Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Monts 1603- 1608 Jean de Biencourt, Baron de Poutrincourt 1606- 1615 Charles de Biencourt 1615- 1623 Charles de La Tour 1631- 1642 Ignace de Razilly 1632- 1635 Charles de Menou, Seigneur d'Aulnay de Charnizay 1638- 1650 Cha under the authority of King Henry IVFrans Pourbus the younger. Henry IV ( December 13, 1553 May 14, 1610) was the first of the Bourbon kings of France, reigning from 1589 until 1610. As a Protestant he was involved in the Wars of Religion before acceding to the throne; as King he converted, on Saint Croix Island in 1604Events January 14 Hampton Court conference with James I of England, the Anglican bishops and representatives of Puritans September 20 Capture of Ostend by Spanish forces under Ambrosio Spinola after a three year siege. November 1 At Whitehall Palace in Lo. The following year, the settlement was moved across the Bay of FundyThe Bay of Fundy is a bay located on the Atlantic coast of Canada, on the north end of the Gulf of Maine between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The name "Fundy" is thought to date back to the 16th century when the Portuguese referred to t to Port RoyalThis article is about the community of Port Royal, an early French colony in eastern Canada. For information on the South Carolina town see: Port Royal, South Carolina. For information on the former Jamaican capital see: Port Royal. For information on the after a difficult winter on the island and deaths due to scurvy. In 1608, many of the settlers followed Samuel Champlain north to found New France in modern day Quebec City.

The French took control of the Wabanahki First Nations territory. In 1654, King Louis XIV of France appointed aristocrat Nicholas Denys as Governor of Acadia and granted him the confiscated lands and the right to all its minerals. British colonists captured Acadia in the course of King William's War but Britain returned it to France at the peace settlement. It was recaptured in the course of Queen Anne's War and its conquest confirmed in the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713. On 23 June that year, the French residents of Acadia were given one year to declare allegiance to Britain or leave Nova Scotia.

Following this reverse, the French signalled their preparedness for future hostilities by building Fortress Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island. The British were alarmed by the prospect of disloyalty in wartime of the French colonists now under their rule.

In 1755, the British burned Acadian homes at the outbreak of the French and Indian War between Britain and France. The Acadians were accused of disloyalty and guerrilla action. Those Acadians who refused to swear loyalty to the British crown suffered the Great Upheaval. Some 6,000-7,000 were expelled to France or the American colonies. Others fled deeper into Canada.

Many expelled Acadians eventually settled in Louisiana, which was then still under French rule. Acadians formed the nucleus of the Cajun population. The name Cajun is derived from Acadia: the word for Acadian in French is acadien, which, said fast, becomes Cajun. After the end of the war, Britain allowed some Acadians to return to Acadia but these were a small minority.

The poem Evangeline by Longfellow tells the story of an expelled Acadian struggling to reunite with her love.

The national anthem of Acadia is Ave Maris Stella.