By the time the French did send troops into Vaud in late January 1798, the locals had already risen up and driven away the Bernese "baillis" (or governor) and proclaimed the Lemanic Republic. This did not stop the French who proceeded to a largely peaceful invasion of Switzerland. With this French aid, a broader movement throughout Switzerland was begun by La Harpe and Peter Ochs, which culminated in the eventual formation of a centralized republic, called the Helvetic Republic. The republic was ruled by a central Directory, of which La Harpe became a member on 29 June 1798, as well as a Senate and some local governance.