Pô

Pô was a historical French department established in 1802 in the Piedmont region of present-day Italy. It was created after France formally annexed the territory of the former Subalpine Republic, the mainland portion of the Kingdom of Sardinia that had come under French control. The department took its name from the Po River, one of the principal geographical features of northern Italy, and its capital was Turin. The administrative unit emerged from a reorganization of French-occupied Piedmont. A provisional department named Eridan had been planned in 1799 and established in 1801. Following the direct annexation of the territory to France, Eridan was divided between the departments of Pô and Doire. Pô encompassed Turin and extensive surrounding areas, including parts of the Piedmontese plain and Alpine valleys. By 1812, the department was divided into the arrondissements of Turin, Pinerolo, and Susa. The Turin arrondissement included the departmental capital and numerous cantons extending across the metropolitan area and adjacent countryside. Pinerolo covered communities south and west of Turin, while Susa administered settlements in the Susa Valley and nearby Alpine districts. The department's recorded population in 1812 was 399,237, and its area was 414,526 hectares. The department was governed by prefects appointed within the French imperial administrative system. Its prefects included Victor Hercule Joseph Ferdinand, comte de Lavilla de Villasteloni; Pierre Loysel; Étienne Vincent Marnolia; and Alexandre Théodore Victor de Lameth, baron de Lameth. Their administrations formed part of Napoleon's effort to integrate annexed territories into France through centralized institutions, standardized divisions, and prefectural government. Pô ceased to exist after Napoleon's defeat in 1814. The Congress of Vienna restored the Savoyard King of Sardinia to his former territories, including Piedmont, and the department's former lands returned to the Kingdom of Sardinia. The territory is now principally associated with the Italian province of Turin, although the historical department should not be confused with a modern commercial brand or an existing French territorial unit.

Pô was created as part of the French administrative restructuring of Piedmont during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. French forces had occupied the mainland territories of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the resulting political arrangement was represented by the Subalpine Republic. In 1799, French authorities planned a provisional department called Eridan; that department was established in 1801 while Piedmont remained under French occupation and administrative influence. The political situation changed in 1802 when France directly annexed the territory. Eridan was then reorganized, producing the departments of Pô and Doire. Pô was named for the Po River and had Turin as its capital. Its creation brought the region more closely into the centralized departmental system used in metropolitan France and other annexed territories. The department was administered by a prefect rather than by the institutions of the restored Sardinian monarchy. The department's territory included Turin, Pinerolo, Susa, and surrounding districts. In the administrative arrangement recorded for 1812, it contained three arrondissements: Turin, Pinerolo, and Susa. These were further divided into cantons. Turin's arrondissement included cantons such as Carignano, Carmagnola, Chieri, Moncalieri, Rivoli, and several cantons within Turin itself. Pinerolo's arrondissement included places such as Cavour, Fenestrelle, Pinerolo, Torre Pellice, and Vigone. Susa's arrondissement included Alpine settlements including Bardonecchia, Bussoleno, Cesana, Oulx, and Susa. The department covered 414,526 hectares and had a population of 399,237 in 1812. Its prefectural administration changed several times. Victor Hercule Joseph Ferdinand, comte de Lavilla de Villasteloni, served from the department's establishment until 1805. He was followed by Pierre Loysel, who served until 1808, and Étienne Vincent Marnolia, who held office from 1808 to 1809. Alexandre Théodore Victor de Lameth, baron de Lameth, became prefect in February 1809 and remained in office until 1813. Pô's existence ended with the collapse of Napoleonic rule in Italy. After Napoleon's defeat in 1814, the department was disbanded. The Congress of Vienna restored the Savoyard King of Sardinia to his former domains, including Piedmont, reversing the French annexation. The former department's territory subsequently formed part of the restored Sardinian state and is now located in Italy, chiefly within the area associated with the modern province of Turin. Pô is therefore a defunct historical administrative division rather than a continuing organization, jurisdiction, or consumer brand.

• 1815

  Piedmont restored to Sardinia

  [1]Pô (department)en.wikipedia.org

  The Congress of Vienna restored the Savoyard King of Sardinia to Piedmont and other former domains, including the territory formerly administered as Pô.

• 1814

  Department dissolved

  [1]Pô (department)en.wikipedia.org

  Pô was disbanded after Napoleon's defeat and the end of French rule in the region.

• 1812

  Administrative structure recorded

  [1]Pô (department)en.wikipedia.org

  The department was organized into the arrondissements of Turin, Pinerolo, and Susa, with a recorded population of 399,237 and an area of 414,526 hectares.

• 1802

  Pô created after annexation

  [1]Pô (department)en.wikipedia.org

  Following the direct annexation of the Subalpine Republic's territory to France, Eridan was divided between Pô and Doire. Turin became Pô's capital.

• 1801

  Eridan established

  [1]Pô (department)en.wikipedia.org

  Eridan was established as a provisional department during French control of Piedmont.

• 1799

  Eridan planned

  [1]Pô (department)en.wikipedia.org

  French authorities planned a provisional department named Eridan in the French-occupied Piedmont.

Historical French territorial-administrative division created during the Napoleonic annexation of Piedmont.

• 1814

  Dissolution after the Napoleonic defeatOther

  Background

  The defeat of Napoleon ended French control over the department's territory.

  Action taken

  The department was disbanded and its territory returned to the restored Sardinian monarchy.

  Aftermath

  The former department became part of the restored Kingdom of Sardinia and is now located in Italy, principally in the area of the modern province of Turin.

  Source

• 1802

  Reorganization after annexationStrategy

  Background

  France directly annexed the territory of the former Subalpine Republic, requiring a new administrative arrangement for Piedmont.

  Action taken

  French authorities divided the provisional department of Eridan between the new departments of Pô and Doire, with Turin serving as Pô's capital.

  Aftermath

  Pô operated as a French department until the collapse of Napoleonic rule and its dissolution in 1814.

  Source

1. 1Pô (department)en.wikipedia.org