Lys (department)


Lys was a department of the French First Republic and French First Empire in present-day Belgium. It was named after the river Lys. It was created on 1 October 1795, when the Austrian Netherlands and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège were officially annexed by the French Republic. Prior to this annexation, its territory was part of the County of Flanders. Its Chef-lieu was Bruges.
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 more or less with the present-day Belgian province of West Flanders.

Administration

Prefects

The Prefect was the highest state representative in the department.
Term startTerm endOffice holder
2 March 18009 February 1804François Marie Joseph Justin de Viry
9 February 180412 May 1808François Bernard de Chauvelin
30 November 181025 August 1811Pierre Amédée Vincent Joseph Marie Arborio-Biamino
25 August 181130 May 1814Jean François Soult

General Secretaries

The General Secretary was the deputy to the Prefect.
Term startTerm endOffice holder
2 March 180030 May 1814Auguste Henissart

Subprefects of Bruges

Until 1811, the Prefect also held the office of Subprefect of Bruges.
Term startTerm endOffice holder
14 January 181130 May 1814Delanghe

Subprefects of Courtray

Subprefects of Furnes

Subprefects of Ypres