Léman (French: [lemɑ̃] ) was a department of the French First Republic and French First Empire . Its name came from the French name of Lake Geneva , Lac Léman . It was formed in 1798, when the Republic of Geneva was annexed by the French Republic. Léman also included districts that were previously part of the departments of Mont-Blanc (northern Savoy ) and Ain (around Gex ). Its territory corresponded with the present Swiss canton of Geneva and parts of the present French departments of Ain and Haute-Savoie .
The Chef-lieu of the department was Genève . The department was subdivided into the following three arrondissements and cantons :[1]
Genève : Carouge , Chêne-Thônex , Collonge , Frangy , Genève (3 cantons), Gex , Reignier and Saint-Julien .
Bonneville : Bonneville , Chamonix , Cluses , Megève , La Roche , Sallanches , Samoëns , Taninges and Viuz-en-Sallaz .
Thonon : Douvaine , Évian , Saint-Jean-d'Aulps and Thonon .
After the final defeat of Napoleon 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 the department of Ain .
Administration
Prefects
The Prefect was the highest state representative in the department.
Term start
Term end
Office holder
2 March 1800[3]
10 December 1802
Ange Marie d'Eymar
10 December 1802[4]
30 November 1810
Claude Ignace Brugière de Barante
30 November 1810[5]
5 January 1814
Guillaume Antoine Benoît Capelle
5 January 1814[6]
Not installed
Louis Toussaint de La Moussaye
Secretary-General
The Secretary-General was the deputy to the Prefect.
Term start
Term end
Office holder
2 March 1800
?? ?? 1802
Cornuaud
?? ?? 1803
?? ?? 1811
Étienne Charles Garnier
?? ?? 1811
31 December 1813
J.J. Councler
Subprefects of Bonneville
Term start
Term end
Office holder
1 August 1800[7]
12 June 1811
Joseph Marie Gavard
12 June 1811[7]
31 December 1813
Gavard Fils
26 December 1811[7]
31 December 1813
Jean Baptiste Rogniat
Subprefects of Genève
The office of Subprefect of Genève was held by the Prefect until 1811.
Term start
Term end
Office holder
14 January 1811[7]
7 May 1812
Bouthillier de Beaumont
7 May 1812[7]
31 December 1813
Jean Baptiste Bourgeois de Jessaint
Subprefects of Thonon
Term start
Term end
Office holder
5 April 1800[7]
1 October 1804
François Plagnat
1 October 1804[7]
31 December 1813
Joseph Jérôme Milliet
See also
References