Escaut (department)


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, 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.
The Chef-lieu of the department was Ghent. The department was subdivided into the following four arrondissements and cantons :
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 holder
2 March 180018 September 1808Guillaume Charles Faipoult de Maisoncelles
18 September 180812 March 1813Frédéric Christophe d'Houdetot
12 March 181323 March 1813Jean François Marie Delaître
23 March 181330 May 1814Napoléon Jean-Évangéliste Desmousseaux de Givré

General Secretaries

The General Secretary was the deputy to the Prefect.
Term startTerm endOffice holder
2 March 1800?? ?? 1802Étienne Lehodey de Saultchevreuil
?? ?? 1802?? ?? 1805Claude Joachim Gréban de Saint Germain
?? ?? 180530 May 1814P. Tinel

Subprefects of Andenarde

Subprefects of Eccloo

This subprefecture was created in 1803, replacing Sas-de-Gand.
Term startTerm endOffice holder
24 September 180330 May 1814André Etienne Bazenerye

Subprefects of Gand

Until 1811, the Prefect also held the office of Subprefect of Gand.
Term startTerm endOffice holder
14 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 holder
1 June 180015 September 1800Aubert
15 September 180026 November 1802Robert
26 November 180214 January 1803François Pierre Eversdyck
14 January 180324 September 1803André Etienne Bazenerye

Subprefects of Termonde