the name "alto adige" was created in the late 18th century by napoleon bonaparte, when he occupied the territory of northern italy near the alps. this was the name of the french administrative division known as the "department of alto adige" ("dipartimento dell'alto adige"), created during napoleon's kingdom of italy in 1810. it was officially named "haut adige" to get rid of relation to the historic "county of tyrol" of austria. the district of alto adige was created by napoleon as part of the dipartamento del benaco in his cisalpine republic, and was near verona. this benaco department, created in 1797, was gotten rid of in 1798 as a result of administrative changes to the cisalpine republic.