Esch-sur-Alzette () is a canton in southwestern Luxembourg. It is both the second most populous and second most densely populated canton after the canton of Luxembourg. It borders Belgium & France.
History
Like the other cantons of Luxembourg, the canton of Esch dates back to 31 August 1795. However, it was created under the name of the canton of Soleuvre. This term was of short duration since, already on 22 October 1796, a new decree renamed it the canton of Bascharage. Bascharage canton was less spread-out than the current canton of Esch since Leudelange, Pontpierre, Bettembourg and Dudelange belonged to the canton of Hesperange, created to the south of the capital. Bascharage canton, on the other hand, included Marner, which is now in Capellen canton. Subsequently, there was a new disruption of the cantonal borders, which were at the same time administrative and judicial divisions, after a consular decree of 6 March 1802. The number of cantons in the Forêts department was reduced from 37 to 27 and, in the place of Bascharage canton, a canton of Bettembourg was created. However, this did not have the same borders as its predecessor, as it lost its western part, which went to the neighbouring canton of Messancy. The boundary between the cantons of Bettembourg and Messancy passes between Differdange (in the canton of Messancy), and Belvaux (in the canton of Bettembourg). Twelve years later came the end of Napoleon's Empire, the end of the Forêts department, and Luxembourg's de facto incorporation into the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Dutch administration maintained the French administrative divisions, except for renaming arrondissements to districts.
After the Belgian Revolution of 1830, this system ended and for nine years, the administration of the Grand-Duchy — before its third partition — was carried out by Belgium, except for the city and federal fortress of Luxembourg, with its Prussian garrison. Under the French and Dutch administration, there had been a district of Luxembourg, whose commissioner naturally resided in Luxembourg City. In order to administer this district, apart from Luxembourg City itself, the seat of the commissioner, an agent of the Belgian government, had been transferred to Bettembourg. This village of 740 habitants was now the administrative centre of the district. The notary Philippe Hanno, a Luxembourg native, was named district commissioner with residence in Bettembourg. In the night of 15 February 1834, the Prussian general du Moulin, commandant of the Fortress of Luxembourg, had Hanno captured in Bettembourg and imprisoned in Luxembourg. It required the intervention of France and the United Kingdom before Hanno was released.
See also
- Esch-sur-Alzette (Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg constituency)