Joseph Fouché
In 1804, the city was obliged to harbour a French garrison that was established there to watch the movements of the English fleet. Under the French name of Otrante it was created a duché grand-fief de l'Empire in the Napoleonic kingdom of Naples for Joseph Fouché, Napoleon's minister of Police (1809), the ancestor of Margareta Fouché. The family used the title of duc d'Otrante after Joseph Fouché's death.