Ithaque (;
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
for
Ithaca
Ithaca most commonly refers to:
*Homer's Ithaca, an island featured in Homer's ''Odyssey''
*Ithaca (island), an island in Greece, possibly Homer's Ithaca
*Ithaca, New York, a city, and home of Cornell University and Ithaca College
Ithaca, Ithaka ...
) was one of three short-lived
French departments of Greece. It came into existence after
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader wh ...
's
conquest
Conquest is the act of military subjugation of an enemy by force of arms.
Military history provides many examples of conquest: the Roman conquest of Britain, the Mauryan conquest of Afghanistan and of vast areas of the Indian subcontinent, ...
in 1797 of the
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia ...
, when Venetian Greek possessions such as the
Ionian islands fell to the
French Directory. It included the islands of
Ithaca
Ithaca most commonly refers to:
*Homer's Ithaca, an island featured in Homer's ''Odyssey''
*Ithaca (island), an island in Greece, possibly Homer's Ithaca
*Ithaca, New York, a city, and home of Cornell University and Ithaca College
Ithaca, Ithaka ...
,
Kefalonia and
Lefkada, as well as the cities of
Preveza,
Arta and
Vonitsa on the adjacent mainland. Its prefecture was at
Argostoli
Argostoli ( el, Αργοστόλι, Katharevousa: Ἀργοστόλιον) is a town and a municipality on the island of Kefalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece. Since the 2019 local government reform it is one of the three municipalities on the isl ...
. The islands were lost to
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
in 1798 and the department was officially disbanded in 1802. Also Preveza was captured in 1798 and, Arta and Vonitsa were captured in 1799 by
Ali Pasha, governor of
Yanya Eyalet.
During the
renewed French control of the area in 1807–1809, the department was not re-established, the constitutional form of the
Septinsular Republic being kept.
Administration
Commissioner
The Commissioner of the Directory was the highest state representative in the department.
See also
*
Department of Mer-Égée
*
Department of Corcyre
*
French rule in the Ionian Islands (1797–1799)
*
Treaty of Campo Formio
References
*
*
{{Authority control
Former departments of France in Greece
States and territories established in 1797
History of Cephalonia
Ithaca
Lefkada
1797 establishments in France