Léman (department)

Léman was the name of a département of the First French Empire. Its name is the French name of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman). It was formed in 1798, when the republic of Geneva was occupied by the French. Léman also included districts that were previously part of the départements Mont-Blanc (northern Savoy) and Ain (around Gex). Its territory corresponds with the present Swiss canton of Geneva and parts of the present French départements Ain and Haute-Savoie.

The capital of Léman département was Geneva. The département was subdivided into the following arrondissements and cantons (situation in 1812):[1]

Its population in 1812 was 210,478, and its area was 280,000 hectares.[1]

After the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815, the former republic of Geneva became a Swiss canton, and Savoy was returned to the Kingdom of Sardinia. The area around Gex returned to Ain département.

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Almanach Impérial an bissextil MDCCCXII, p. 418-419, accessed in Gallica 25 July 2013 (French)

Coordinates: 46°12′N 6°09′E / 46.2°N 6.15°E