Forêts

The north-western departments of the empire in 1812

Forêts was a département of the French First Republic, and later the First French Empire, in present Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Its name, meaning 'forests', comes from the Ardennes forests. It was formed on 24 October 1795, after the Southern Netherlands had been annexed by France on 1 October. Before the occupation, the territory was part of the Duchy of Luxembourg and the Duchy of Bouillon.

Its capital was Luxembourg City. After Napoleon was defeated in 1814, most of it became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the part on the east side of the rivers Our and Sauer becoming part of Prussia (now Germany). It is now divided between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Belgian province of Luxembourg, and the German Land of Rhineland-Palatinate.

In 1812 it consisted of the following arrondissements and cantons:

• Luxembourg: cantons Luxembourg, Arlon, Bettembourg, Betzdorf, Grevenmacher, Mersch, Messancy and Remich (Arlon and Messancy now in Belgium, others in Luxembourg).

• Bitburg: cantons Bitburg, Arzfeld, Dudeldorf, Echternach and Neuerburg (Echternach now in Luxembourg, others in Germany).

• Diekirch: cantons Diekirch, Clervaux, Ospern, Vianden and Wiltz (now in Luxembourg).

• Neufchâteau: cantons Neufchâteau, Bastogne, Étalle, Fauvillers, Florenville, Houffalize, Paliseul, Sibret and Virton (now in Belgium).

References

• (French) Kreins, Jean-Marie (2003). Histoire du Luxembourg (3rd edition ed.). Paris: Presses Universitaires de France. ISBN 978-21-3053-852-3.