Rhône-et-Loire
Encyclopedia
Rhône-et-Loire was a département of France
whose préfecture
(capital) was Lyon
. Created on March 4, 1790 like the other French départements, Rhône-et-Loire was abolished on August 12, 1793 when it was split into two départements: Rhône
(préfecture: Lyon) and Loire
(préfecture: Feurs
, then Montbrison
, then now Saint-Étienne
). The division of Rhône-et-Loire was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities
in Lyon
which, by population, was the country's second largest city. By splitting Rhône-et-Loire, which was the natural economic and, potentially, military hinterland of Lyon, the government
sought to protect the French Revolution
from the potential power and influence of the counter revolutionary revolt in the Lyon region.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Rhône département was enlarged several times by incorporating into it areas from neighboring départements, so that today the two départements of Rhône and Loire combined are larger than the former Rhône-et-Loire département.
If Rhône-et-Loire still existed, its population at the 1999 French census would have been 1,799,812 inhabitants, whereas in 1999 the Rhône département had 1,578,869 inhabitants, and the Loire département had 728,524 inhabitants.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
whose préfecture
Préfecture
A prefecture in France can refer to :*the Chef-lieu de département, the town in which the administration of a department is located;*the Chef-lieu de région, the town in which the administration of a region is located;...
(capital) was Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
. Created on March 4, 1790 like the other French départements, Rhône-et-Loire was abolished on August 12, 1793 when it was split into two départements: Rhône
Rhône (département)
Rhône is a French department located in the central Eastern region of Rhône-Alpes. It is named after the Rhône River.- History :The Rhône department was created on August 12, 1793 when the former département of Rhône-et-Loire was split into two departments: Rhône and Loire.Originally, the eastern...
(préfecture: Lyon) and Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
(préfecture: Feurs
Feurs
Feurs is a commune in the Loire department and in the Rhône-Alpes region in central France.The inhabitants of Feurs are called Foréziens.-History:The name Feurs derives from the Roman name of the town Forum Segusiavorum...
, then Montbrison
Montbrison, Loire
Montbrison is a commune in the Loire department in central France.The commune gives its name to the popular blue cheese Fourme de Montbrison which has been made in the region for centuries.-History:...
, then now Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne is a city in eastern central France. It is located in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region, along the trunk road that connects Toulouse with Lyon...
). The division of Rhône-et-Loire was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities
Revolt of Lyon against the National Convention
The revolt of Lyon against the National Convention was a counter-revolutionary movement in the city of Lyon. It involved a revolt against the revolutionary government, breaking out in June 1793 and ending in December of the same year....
in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
which, by population, was the country's second largest city. By splitting Rhône-et-Loire, which was the natural economic and, potentially, military hinterland of Lyon, the government
National Convention
During the French Revolution, the National Convention or Convention, in France, comprised the constitutional and legislative assembly which sat from 20 September 1792 to 26 October 1795 . It held executive power in France during the first years of the French First Republic...
sought to protect the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
from the potential power and influence of the counter revolutionary revolt in the Lyon region.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Rhône département was enlarged several times by incorporating into it areas from neighboring départements, so that today the two départements of Rhône and Loire combined are larger than the former Rhône-et-Loire département.
If Rhône-et-Loire still existed, its population at the 1999 French census would have been 1,799,812 inhabitants, whereas in 1999 the Rhône département had 1,578,869 inhabitants, and the Loire département had 728,524 inhabitants.