Lys (department)

Lys ([lis], Dutch: Leie) was a department of the French First Republic and French First Empire in present-day Belgium. It was named after the river Lys (Leie). It was created on 1 October 1795, when the Austrian Netherlands and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège were officially annexed by the French Republic.[4] Prior to this annexation, its territory was part of the County of Flanders. Its Chef-lieu was Bruges.

Department of Lys Département de la Lys (fr) Departement Leie (nl)
1795–1814
Flag
Lys and other annexed departments
Status	Department of the French First Republic and French First Empire
Chef-lieu	Bruges 51°12′N 3°13′E
Official languages	French
Common languages	Dutch
Historical era	French Revolutionary Wars
• Creation	1 October 1795
• Treaty of Paris, disestablished	30 May 1814
Area
1804	3,022 km2 (1,167 sq mi)
1812	3,669 km2 (1,417 sq mi)
Population
• 1784	444,260[1]
• 1804	461,659[1]
• 1805	471,689[2]
• 1812	491,143[3]
Preceded by Succeeded by Austrian Netherlands United Kingdom of the Netherlands
Today part of	Belgium

The department was subdivided into the following four arrondissements and cantons (as of 1812):[3]

• Bruges: Ardoye, Bruges (5 cantons), Ghistelles, Ostende, Ruysselede, Thielt and Thourout (2 cantons).
• Courtray: Avelghem, Courtray (4 cantons), Haerelbeke, Ingelmunster, Menin, Meulebeke, Moozeele, Oost-roosebeke and Roulers.
• Furnes: Dixmude, Furnes, Haeringhe and Nieuport.
• Ypres: Elverdinge, Hooglede, Messines, Pashendaele, Poperinghe, Wervicq and Ypres (2 cantons).

After Napoleon was defeated in 1814, the department became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its territory corresponded more or less with the present-day Belgian province of West Flanders.