Sésia (French: [sesja]) was a department of the French Consulate and of the First French Empire in present-day Italy. It was named after the river Sesia. It was formed in 1801, when the Subalpine Republic (formerly the mainland portion of the Kingdom of Sardinia) was intended to be annexed to France. Its capital was Vercelli.

Quick Facts Département de la Sésia, Capital ...

Département de la Sésia
Department of the First French Republic and of the First French Empire
1802–1814
Flag
Administrative map of the Italian portion of the French Empire.
Capital	Vercelli
Area
• Coordinates	45°19′N 8°25′E
• 1812[1]	3,351.18 km2 (1,293.90 sq mi)
Population
• 1812[1]	202,733
History
• Decree of 24 Fructidor, year X[2]	11 September 1802
• Treaty of Fontainebleau	11 April 1814
Political subdivisions	5 Arrondissements[1]
Preceded by Succeeded by Subalpine Republic Division of Vercelli

Close

The department was disbanded after the defeat of Napoleon in 1814. At the Congress of Vienna, the Savoyard King of Sardinia was restored in all his previous realms and domains, including Piedmont. Its territory is now divided between the Italian provinces of Vercelli and Biella.

The department was subdivided into the following arrondissements and cantons (situation in 1812):^[1]

• Vercelli, cantons: Agnona, Crevacuore, Gattinara, Masserano, Quinto, Stroppiana, Trino and Vercelli (2 cantons).
• Biella, cantons: Biella, Bioglio, Cacciorna, Candelo, Cavaglià, Cossato, Graglia, Mongrando and Mosso Santa Maria.
• Santhià, cantons: Buronzo, Cigliano, Crescentino, Livorno and Santhià.

Its population in 1812 was 202,733, and its area was 335,118 hectares.^[1]