Dyle (, ) was a department of the French First Republic and French First Empire in present-day Belgium. It was named after the river Dyle (Dijle), which flows through the department. Its territory corresponded more or less with that of the Belgian province of Brabant, now divided into Walloon Brabant, Flemish Brabant and the Brussels-Capital Region. It was created on 1 October 1795, when the Austrian Netherlands and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège were officially annexed by the French Republic. Before the annexation, its territory was partly in the Duchy of Brabant, partly in the County of Hainaut, and partly in some smaller territories.
The Chef-lieu of the department was the City of Brussels (Bruxelles in French). The department was subdivided into the following three arrondissements and cantons (as of 1812):
Bruxelles: Anderlecht, Asse, Bruxelles (4 cantons), Hal, La Hulpe, Lennik, Woluwe-Saint-Étienne, Uccle, Vilvorde and Wolvertem. Louvain: Aerschot, Diest, Glabbeek, Grez-Doiceau, Haecht, Léau, Louvain (2 cantons) and Tirlemont (2 cantons). Nivelles: Genappe, Hérinnes, Jodoigne, Nivelles (2 cantons), Perwez and Wavre.
After the defeat of Napoleon the department became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, as the province of (South) Brabant.
Administration Prefects The Prefect was the highest state representative in the department. Term startTerm endOffice holder2 March 18001 February 1805Louis Gustave le Doulcet de Pontécoulant1 February 180512 May 1808François Louis René Mouchard de Chaban12 May 180812 March 1813Frédéric Séraphin de la Tour du Pin Gouvernet12 March 181330 May 1814Frédéric-Christophe d'Houdetot
General Secretaries The General Secretary was the deputy to the Prefect. Term startTerm endOffice holder26 April 1800?? ?? 1806Joseph Claude Anne Le Gras de Bercagny?? ?? 180630 May 1814Jean Jacques Victor Verseyden de Varick
Subprefects of Bruxelles The office of Subprefect of Bruxelles was held by the Prefect until 1811. Term startTerm endOffice holder14 January 181130 May 1814Jean Pierre Henri Amédée Marbotin de Conteneuil
Subprefects of Louvain Term startTerm endOffice holder1 June 180017 May 1810Duchastel17 May 181030 May 1814Sterckx
Subprefects of Nivelles Term startTerm endOffice holder25 April 180026 December 1811Bauduin Joseph Ghislain Berlaimont26 December 181130 May 1814Martin de Bussy-Boulancy
References