The Comminges (; Occitan/Gascon: Comenge) is an ancient region of southern France in the foothills of the Pyrenees, corresponding approximately to the arrondissement of Saint-Gaudens in the department of Haute-Garonne. This region is normally associated with the former domain of the Counts of Comminges, although an earlier definition is based on the Diocese of Comminges, which appeared to include a small part of Aragon. History The Comminges takes its name from Convenae, the name the Romans gave to the inhabitants of the region. Whilst it is unclear whether this was originally a distinct tribe (the latin word convenae can be translated as 'strangers', or 'those meeting here'), the Romanisation of the region established this as the identity of the area and its inhabitants. The main town of the area was named Lugdunum Convenarum by the Romans. It is often claimed that the town was founded by Pompey in 72 BC, but extensive archaeological investigations have failed to find any evidence of this. During the Augustan period, the town was substantially Romanised and expanded. There was a growing Christian community, which by the late fourth century became the Diocese of Comminges based at Lugdunum. In 1083 Bertrand de l'Isle-Jourdain became bishop of Comminges and built the cathedral and Romanesque cloister at Lugdunum. He was canonised as Saint Bertrand in the 13th century and the town took the name Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges. The origin of the name Comminges is uncertain. It is often claimed to date from 473, when Sidonius Apollinaris wrote of the death of the bishop of Comminges, or 506 when Suavis, Bishop of Comminges, attended the Council of Agde. However, the original latin texts of the relevant documents use the term Convenae or Convenis rather than Comminges. There are a number of documents concerning the Counts of the Comminges from the 12th century. Those written in latin typically use the name Convenarum, whilst those written in Gascon or Old French usually use the name Comenge.<ref>Medieval Lands - A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families Charles Cawley </ref> Comminges was part of Gascony. Around 820, Aznar Sanchez was made Count of Vasconia Citerior (i.e. Gascony) by King Pepin I of Aquitaine, the grandson of Charlemagne. He made his son Garcia Aznar Viscount of Comminges (or Convenarum) in 833. After his father died Garcia Aznar became Count of Comminges and Couseran. The line of the Counts of Comminges continued until Marguerite,