Deux-Nèthes (, ) was a department of the First French Republic and of the First French Empire in present-day Belgium and the Netherlands. It was named after two branches of the river Nete (Grote Nete and Kleine Nete). The southern part of its territory corresponds more or less with the present-day Belgian province of Antwerp. It was created on 1 October 1795, when the Austrian Netherlands were officially annexed by the French Republic. Its territory was the northern part of the former duchy of Brabant. After the annexation of the Kingdom of Holland in 1810, the department was expanded with the western half of the present-day Dutch province of North Brabant, itself historically part of the Duchy of Brabant.
The Chef-lieu of the department was Antwerp (Anvers in French). The department was subdivided into the following four arrondissements and cantons (with French names):
Anvers: Anvers (4 cantons), Brecht, Ekeren, Kontich, Wilrijk and Zandhoven. Bréda: Bergues-sur-le-Zon, Bréda, Ginneken, Oosterhout, Oudenbosch, Rosendael and Zevenbergen. Malines: Duffel, Heyst-sur-la-Montagne, Lierre, Malines (2 cantons) and Puers. Turnhout: Arendonk, Herentals, Hoogstraten, Mol, Turnhout and Westerlo.
After Napoleon was defeated in 1814, the department became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands as the provinces of Antwerp and North Brabant. ,... Napoleon I. had its fortifications razed in 1804, and made it the capital of the French "Departement des deux Nethes," until 1814, when it was comprised in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and it finally became part of Belgium in 1830...
Administration
Prefects The Prefect was the highest state representative in the department. Term startTerm endOffice holder2 March 180029 July 1805Charles Joseph Fortuné d'Herbouville29 July 180529 March 1809Charles Cochon de Lapparent29 March 180912 March 1813Marc René Marie Voyer de Paulmy d'Argenson12 March 181330 May 1814Jacques Fortunat Savoye-Rollin
Secretaries General The Secretary General was the deputy to the Prefect. Term startTerm endOffice holder26 April 1800?? ?? 1805Jacques Ambroise Rialle?? ?? 180530 May 1814Jacques-Chrisostôme Jullien d'Aguilhan
Subprefects of Anvers The office of Subprefect of Anvers was held by the Prefect until 1811. Term startTerm endOffice holder14 January 181114 February 1812Guislain De Loose14 February 181230 May 1814Baillet
Subprefects of Bréda This subprefecture was created in 1810 and suppressed a month later. Term startTerm endOffice holder5 May 181015 May 1810Peppe
Subprefects of Malines Term startTerm endOffice holder25 April 18008 July 1802Jean Henri Pierre Van den Branden de Riette8 July 180230 May 1814Devargny
Subprefects of Turnhout Term startTerm endOffice holder25 April 180030 May 1814Mesmaekers
References