It was formed in 1808, when the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza was annexed by France under the Treaty of Lunéville.

At the Congress of Vienna, the Duchy was restored and given to Marie Louise, Napoleon's wife.

Its territory is now divided between the Italian provinces of Parma and Piacenza.

The most notable person born in the then-Département of Taro was the composer Giuseppe Verdi (born 9 or 10 October 1813 in the village of Le Roncole near Busseto).

The department was subdivided into the following arrondissements and cantons (situation in 1812):[1] Its population in 1812 was 376,558, and its area was approximately 502,236 hectares.