Tanaro (department)

Tanaro was a short-lived department of the French Consulate and of the First French Empire in present-day Italy. It was named after the river Tanaro. 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 Asti, though Alessandria was the original intended capital.

The department was disbanded in 1805, when the French conquered the Ligurian Republic, and its territory was divided over the departments of Marengo, Montenotte and Stura.

Subdivision
The department was subdivided into the following arrondissements and cantons (situation in 1805):


 * Asti, cantons: Asti, Canelli, Castelnuovo, Cocconato, Costigliole, Mombercelli, Montafia, Montechiaro, Portacomaro, Rocca d'Arazzo, San Damiano, Tigliole and Villanova d'Asti.
 * Acqui, cantons: Acqui, Castelletto d'Orba, Dego, Incisa, Nizza Monferrato, Santo Stefano Belbo, Spigno and Visone.
 * Alba, cantons: Alba, Bossolasco, Bra, Canale, Cortemilia, Guarene, La Morra and Sommariva del Bosco.

Its population in 1805 was 310,459.