Meuse-Inférieure (; ; ; "Lower Meuse") was a department of the French First Republic and French First Empire in present-day Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. It was named after the river Meuse. Its territory corresponded largely with the present-day provinces of Belgian and Dutch Limburg. It was created on 1 October 1795, when the Austrian Netherlands and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège were officially annexed by the French Republic. Before this annexation, its territory was part of the County of Loon, the Austrian Upper Guelders, the Staats-Oppergelre, the County of Horne, the Abbacy of Thorn, Maastricht and part of the Lands of Overmaas. The original medieval Duchy of Limburg were associated with the Lands of Overmaas, lying to their south. The two regions had long been governed together and referred to collectively with both names, but the original Duchy lands were not part of this new entity.
The Chef-lieu of the department was Maastricht. The department was subdivided into the following three arrondissements and cantons:
Maastricht: Bilzen, Galoppe, Heerlen, Malines-sur-Meuse, Maastricht (2 cantons), Meerssen, Oirsbeek, Rolduc and Tongres. Hasselt: Béringue, Looz, Hasselt, Herck-la-Ville, Peer and Saint-Trond. Roermond: Achel, Brée, Maaseik, Niederkrüchten, Ruremonde, Venlo and Weert.
After Napoleon was defeated in 1814, the department (excluding Niederkrüchten and Herzogenrath which were assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia and are located in the present-day state of North Rhine-Westphalia) became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, as the Province of Limburg (with a part of the Roer département).
In subsequent events starting in 1830, a part of this Kingdom split out to become Belgium. By 1839 it was settled that the Hasselt canton of Limburg, plus significant parts of the other two, went into Belgium, while the rest remained in the Netherlands. Both provinces have kept the name Limburg.
Administration Prefects The Prefect was the highest state representative in the department. Term startTerm endOffice holder29 March 18002 November 1801François Becays Ferrand dit Ferrand de Lacaussade2 November 180131 January 1806Pierre Loysel31 January 180630 May 1814Jean-Baptiste Roggieri
Secretaries-General The Secretary-General was the deputy to the Prefect. Term startTerm endOffice holder2 March 180030 May 1814M.J. Reintjens
Subprefects of Hasselt Term startTerm endOffice holder17 April 180013 October 1813Jean Baptiste Bertrand Arnoul13 October 181321 November 1813Briche21 November 18136 January 1814Billig6 January 181430 May 1814Baumes
Subprefects of Maastricht The office of Subprefect of Maastricht was held by the Prefect until 1811. Term startTerm endOffice holder11 January 181130 May 1814Van den Rhoër
Subprefects of Roermond Term startTerm endOffice holder17 April 18003 May 1801Magniet3 May 180124 July 1811Liger24 July 181130 May 1814Brandes
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