Simplon_(department)
Simplon (French: [sɛ̃.plɔ̃]) was a department of the First French Empire. It was named after the Simplon Pass (Italian: Passo del Sempione). It was formed in 1810, when the Rhodanic Republic was annexed by France. Its territory corresponded with that of the present-day Swiss canton of Valais.
The chef-lieu of the department was Sion. The department was subdivided into the following three arrondissements and cantons:[1]
- Sion: Hérémence, Loèche, Sierre and Sion.
- Brigue: Brigue, Conches, Mœrel, Rarogne and Viège.
- Saint-Maurice: Entremont, Martigny, Monthey and Saint-Maurice.
After the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815, the department was admitted to the Swiss Confederation and became the canton of Valais.