Sambre-et-Meuse

The Département de Sambre -et -Meuse ( German department of Sambre and Meuse; Dutch Department Samber van de Maas ) was a 1795 to 1814 the French State belonging to the department on the territory of the present provinces of Namur and Luxembourg in Belgium. It was named after the rivers Sambre and Meuse.

History

The territory of the department until 1792 belonged to the county of Namur, which was part of the Austrian Netherlands. In April 1792, the French National Assembly declared war on the Habsburg monarchy. After the battle of Jemappes ( November 1792 ) the Austrian Netherlands fell completely under the control of France. On 9 Vendemiaire Year IV of the Republic (1 October 1795), the area was united on the basis of the "law on the unification of Belgium and Liege Region of the Republic " with France, which by the Treaties of Campo Formio (1797 ) and Luneville (1801 ) was confirmed by international law.

The area was classified according to the newly introduced in France Administrative divisions in nine departments, which were divided into arrondissements, cantons and municipalities. The cantons were also justice of the peace districts.

After Napoleon's defeat in the Battle of Leipzig ( October 1813 ) (May 1814) were the borders between Belgium and France restored to the status as of January 1, 1792 in the First Peace of Paris. With respect to the Department of the Sambre and Meuse inform the cantons Walcourt, Florennes, Beauraing and Gedinne were excluded, they stayed first at France. Taken in response to the Congress of Vienna (June 1815) agreements were merged the old United Provinces of the Netherlands and the former Belgian provinces to the new Kingdom of the Netherlands. In August 1815, the new Kingdom of the Netherlands was divided into provinces, from the department of Sambre and Meuse Namur Province was created, a portion was allocated to the area of the new Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

In the Second Peace of Paris ( November 1815 ) the border between France and the Netherlands was re-established at the level of 1790, so that the cantons Walcourt, Florennes, Beauraing and Gedinne the province of Namur were annexed. Since 1830, the province of Namur is one of Belgium.

Structure

Capital ( chef-lieu ) of the department or office of the prefecture was the city of Namur, at the mouth of the Sambre in the Meuse. It was divided into four arrondissements and 21 cantons and 488 communes:

The Department had an area of ​​4,579 square kilometers and in 1812 a total of 180 655 inhabitants.