DAUPHINÉ, an ancient province of south-eastern France, now forming the departments of Isère, Drôme, and Hautes-Alpes. Its first Celtic occupants were the Allobroges and Caturiges, and it remained under their sway till the time of Charles Martel. When annexed to the territory of the French king, the title of dauphin, now extinct in the line of independent counts, was given to the eldest son of the royal family.