Simplon (department)

Department of Simplon
Département du Simplon (French)
1810–1813
Flag of Simplon
Simplon and other annexed departments
Simplon and other annexed departments
StatusDepartment of the French First Empire
Chef-lieuSion
46°11′N 7°41′E / 46.183°N 7.683°E / 46.183; 7.683
Official languagesFrench
Historical eraNapoleonic Wars
• Annexation of the Rhodanic Republic
13 December 1810
• Occupied by Austrian forces
29 December 1813
Area
• 1812
5,000[1] km2 (1,900 sq mi)
Population
• 1812 census
65500[1]
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Rhodanic Republic
Restoration and Regeneration in Switzerland
Today part ofValais, Switzerland

Simplon (French: [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 annexed by France. Its territory corresponded with that of the present-day Swiss canton of Valais.

The chef-lieu of the department was Sion. The department was subdivided into the following three arrondissements and cantons:[1]

After the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815, the department was admitted to the Swiss Confederation and became the canton of Valais.

  1. ^ a b c Almanach Impérial an bissextil MDCCCXII, p. 469-470, accessed in Gallica 31 July 2013 (in French)

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