Editing Loire (department) (section)

== History ==

Loire was created in 1793 when the [[Rhône-et-Loire]] département was split into two, about three years after it was created in 1790. This was a response to [[Revolt of Lyon against the National Convention|counter-revolutionary activities]] in [[Lyon]] which, by population, was the country's second largest city. By splitting Rhône-et-Loire the [[National Convention|government]] sought to protect the [[French Revolution]] from the potential power and influence of counter revolutionary activity in the Lyon region.

The Loire département roughly corresponds to the former province of [[Forez]].

The [[Prefectures in France|departmental capitals]] (prefectures) throughout its history are as follows:<ref name=splaf/>
* [[Feurs]] 1793–1795
* [[Montbrison, Loire|Montbrison]] 1795–1855
* [[Saint-Étienne]] since 1855