It was formed in 1808, when the Kingdom of Etruria (formerly the Grand Duchy of Tuscany) was annexed directly to France.

At the Congress of Vienna, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany was restored to its previous Habsburg-Lorraine prince, Ferdinand III.

Its territory is now divided between the Italian provinces of Livorno, Pisa, Florence and Siena.

The department was subdivided into the following arrondissements and cantons (situation in 1812):[1] Its population in 1812 was 318,725, and its area was 491,000 hectares.

[1] Elba was, from 1808 to 1811 a separate entity, ruled by a Commissaire général.