Mer-Égée
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mer-Égée (French for Aegean Sea) was a one of three short-lived French départements in present Greece. It came into existence after Napoleon's conquest in 1797 of the Republic of Venice, when Venetian Greek possessions such as the Ionian islands feel to the French Directory. It included the islands of Zante (Zakynthos), Kythira and the Strofades, as well as Dragamesto (modern Astakos) on the Greek mainland. Its prefecture was at the town of Zante (Zakynthos). The territories were lost to Russia in 1798 and the département was officially disbanded in 1802. During the renewed French control of some of the area in 1807-1809, the département was not re-established. Instead the area was incorporated in the Illyrian provinces.
