Arrondissements of the Deux-Sèvres department
1790 : creation of the department, with six districts: Melle, Niort, Parthenay, Saint-Maixent, Thouars and Châtillon (now Mauléon). The capital of the department was Niort alternating with Parthenay and Saint-Maixent but soon was changed and Niort was kept as the only capital.