Montserrat (department) facts for kids

The Department of Montserrat shown as part of France in 1812.

Montserrat was a special area, like a province, created by the First French Empire in what is now Spain. It was named after the famous Montserrat mountain. This "department" was formed on January 26, 1812, when Catalonia became part of the French Empire.

What Was the Montserrat Department?

The Montserrat department was a new way the French Empire organized the land they took over. It was like a big region with its own main city and smaller towns.

Where Was Montserrat Located?

The main city, called the "prefecture," for Montserrat was Barcelona. This was the most important city in the department. There were also two smaller important towns, called "subprefectures": Manresa and Vilafranca del Penedès. These towns helped manage the areas around them.

Who Was in Charge?

The leader of the Montserrat department was a person called a "prefect." For most of its short life, the only prefect was a man named Achille Libéral Treilhard. He was in charge from February 1812 to March 1813.

How Did It Change?

The Montserrat department did not last very long. In March 1813, it was combined with another department called Bouches-de-l'Èbre. The new, larger department was named Montserrat-et-Bouches-de-l'Èbre. However, soon after, the way the area was governed changed completely. Instead of a civil government, a military government took over. This meant soldiers were in charge, not regular officials.

See also

In Spanish: Montserrat (departamento) para niños

Sources

• Changes within and outside the First Empire