Sister republic

Sister republics (French: république sœur, pronounced [ʁepyblik sœʁ] ^ⓘ) were republics established by the French First Republic or local pro-French revolutionaries during the French Revolutionary Wars. Though nominally independent, sister republics were heavily reliant on French protection, making them in effect client states of France. This became particularly evident after the First French Empire was established in 1804, after which France annexed several sister republics and transformed the remainder into monarchies ruled by members of the House of Bonaparte.