Simplon (department)

Simplon
Department of the First French Empire
←
1810–1814 →
Flag
Administrative map of the Italian portion of the French Empire.
Capital Sion
46°11′N 7°41′E / 46.183°N 7.683°E / 46.183; 7.683Coordinates: 46°11′N 7°41′E / 46.183°N 7.683°E / 46.183; 7.683
History
 • Established 1810
 • Disestablished 1814
Area
 • 1812[1] 5,000 km2 (1,931 sq mi)
Population
 • 1812[1] 65,500 
Density 13.1 /km2  (33.9 /sq mi)
Bond of the Département du Simplon, issued 7. December 1812; probably the oldest bond from Switzerland

Simplon [sɛ̃.plɔ̃] was a department of the First French Empire. It was named after the Simplon Pass (Italian: Passo del Sempione). It was formed in 1810, when the Rhodanic Republic was occupied by the French. Its territory corresponded with that of the present-day Swiss canton of Valais. The capital of Simplon was Sion.

The department was subdivided into the following arrondissements and cantons (situation in 1812):[1]

Its population in 1812 was 65,500, and its area was approximately 500,000 hectares.[1]

After the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815, the department became the Swiss canton of Valais.




References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Almanach Impérial an bissextil MDCCCXII, p. 469-470, accessed in Gallica 31 July 2013 (in French)


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