In March 1790, the National Assembly of France enacted a significant administrative reform, dividing the country into 83 départements. This momentous decision was part of broader efforts during the French Revolution to dismantle the old feudal structure and reduce the power of the nobility. Each département was designed to have a population of around 400,000 people and was intended to facilitate more efficient governance. The new administrative divisions replaced the historic provinces that had often been associated with aristocratic power and regional identities. By renaming provincial structures as départements, the revolutionary government sought to cultivate a sense of national citizenship and loyalty to the state, rather than to local lords. This initiative allowed for a more uniform application of laws across France, as the départements were organized to ensure that local representatives were directly accountable to the central government in Paris.

The chosen names and delimitations of the départements were sometimes guided by geographical features or historical references, such as the River Rhône or the rugged terrain of the Pyrenees. This geographical organization highlighted the revolutionary desire to establish equality among citizens by neutralizing the historical privileges tied to land ownership and social class. The change was celebrated by some as a victory against the oppressive feudal system but also faced resistance from those who felt their local identities and traditions were being erased. The new administrative divisions would remain a distinctive feature of French governance, significantly influencing the administrative framework of modern France.