Escaut (, ) was a department of the French First Republic and French First Empire in present-day Belgium and Netherlands. It was named after the river Scheldt (Escô, Schelde), which is called the Escaut in French. It was created on 1 October 1795, when the Austrian Netherlands and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège were officially annexed by the French Republic. Before annexation by France, its territory was part of the County of Flanders and the Dutch Republic (Staats-Vlaanderen).
The Chef-lieu of the department was Ghent (Gand in French). The department was subdivided into the following four arrondissements and cantons (as of 1812):
Gand: Cruyshouthem, Deynse, Evergem, Gand (4 cantons), Loochristi, Nazareth, Nevèle, Oosterzeele, Sommergem and Waerschoot. Termonde: Alost (2 cantons), Beveren, Hamme, Lockeren, Saint-Gillis, Saint-Nicolas, Tamise, Termonde, Wetteren and Zèle. Eccloo: Assenède, Axel, Capryck, Eccloo, L'Écluse, Hulst, Oostbourg and Yzendick. Audenarde: Audenarde (2 cantons), Grammont, Herzèle, Maria-Hoorebecke, Niderbrakel, Ninove, Renaix and Sotteghem.
After Napoleon was defeated in 1814, the department became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its territory corresponded with the present Belgian province of East Flanders and the Dutch region of Zeelandic Flanders.
Administration Prefects The Prefect was the highest state representative in the department. Term startTerm endOffice holder2 March 180018 September 1808Guillaume Charles Faipoult de Maisoncelles18 September 180812 March 1813Frédéric-Christophe d'Houdetot12 March 181323 March 1813Jean François Marie Delaître23 March 181330 May 1814Napoléon Jean-Évangéliste Desmousseaux de Givré
General Secretaries The General Secretary was the deputy to the Prefect. Term startTerm endOffice holder23 May 18001 January 1801Étienne Lehodey de Saultchevreuil3 January 18015 July 1803Claude Joachim Gréban de Saint-Germain?? ?? 180530 May 1814P. Tinel
Subprefects of Audenarde Term startTerm endOffice holder1 May 180015 January 1809Constantin Beyens15 January 180930 May 1814Joseph Charles Emmanuel van Ertborn
Subprefects of Eccloo This subprefecture was created in 1803, replacing Sas-de-Gand. Term startTerm endOffice holder24 September 180330 May 1814André Étienne Bazenerye
Subprefects of Gand Until 1811, the Prefect also held the office of Subprefect of Gand. Term startTerm endOffice holder14 January 181130 May 1814Pierre Louis Joseph Servais van Gobbelschroy
Subprefects of Sas-de-Gand This subprefecture was replaced by Eccloo in 1803. Term startTerm endOffice holder1 June 180015 September 1800Aubert15 September 180026 November 1802Robert26 November 180214 January 1803François Pierre Eversdyck14 January 180324 September 1803André Étienne Bazenerye
Subprefects of Termonde Term startTerm endOffice holder1 May 180030 May 1814Alexandre François Devos d’Ersele
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