Léman () 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 (the Pays de 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 Geneva. The department was subdivided into the following three arrondissements and cantons:
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 Pays de Gex returned to the department of Ain except for six communes (Pregny, Collex-Bossy, Grand-Saconnex, Vernier, Meyrin and Versoix), which were ceded to the Canton of Geneva.
Administration Prefects The Prefect was the highest state representative in the department. Term startTerm endOffice holder2 March 180010 December 1802Ange Marie d'Eymar10 December 180230 November 1810Claude Ignace Brugière de Barante30 November 18105 January 1814Guillaume Antoine Benoît Capelle5 January 1814Not installedLouis Toussaint de La Moussaye
Secretary-General The Secretary-General was the deputy to the Prefect. Term startTerm endOffice holder2 March 1800?? ?? 1802Cornuaud?? ?? 1803?? ?? 1811Étienne Charles Garnier?? ?? 181131 December 1813J.J. Councler
Subprefects of Bonneville Term startTerm endOffice holder1 August 180012 June 1811Joseph Marie Gavard12 June 181131 December 1813Gavard Fils26 December 181131 December 1813Jean-Baptiste Rogniat
Subprefects of Genève The office of Subprefect of Genève was held by the Prefect until 1811. Term startTerm endOffice holder14 January 18117 May 1812Bouthillier de Beaumont7 May 181231 December 1813Jean Baptiste Bourgeois de Jessaint
Subprefects of Thonon Term startTerm endOffice holder5 April 18001 October 1804François Plagnat1 October 180431 December 1813Joseph Jérôme Milliet
See also Former departments of France Canton of Léman Plainpalais
References