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 (EscÃÂ´, Schelde), which is called the Escaut in French. It was created on 1 October 1795, when the Austrian Netherlands and the Prince-Bishopric of LiÃÂ¨ge 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, NevÃÂ¨le, Oosterzeele, Sommergem and Waerschoot.
Termonde: Alost (2 cantons), Beveren, Hamme, Lockeren, Saint-Gillis, Saint-Nicolas, Tamise, Termonde, Wetteren and ZÃÂ¨le.
Eccloo: AssenÃÂ¨de, Axel, Capryck, Eccloo, L'ÃÂcluse, Hulst, Oostbourg and Yzendick.
Audenarde: Audenarde (2 cantons), Grammont, HerzÃÂ¨le, 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.

General Secretaries

The General Secretary was the deputy to the Prefect.

Subprefects of Audenarde

Subprefects of Eccloo

This subprefecture was created in 1803, replacing Sas-de-Gand.

Subprefects of Gand

Until 1811, the Prefect also held the office of Subprefect of Gand.

Subprefects of Sas-de-Gand

This subprefecture was replaced by Eccloo in 1803.