A sister republic (république sœur) was a republic established by French armies or by local revolutionaries and assisted by the First French Republic during the French Revolutionary Wars. These republics, though nominally independent, relied heavily on France for protection, making them more akin to autonomous territories rather than independent states. This became particularly evident after the declaration of the French Empire, when several states were annexed, and the remaining turned into monarchies ruled by members of the Bonaparte family. The French Revolution was a period of social and political upheaval in France from 1789 until 1799. The Republicans who overthrew the monarchy were driven by ideas of popular sovereignty, rule of law and representative democracy. The Republicans borrowed ideas and values from Whiggism and Enlightenment philosophers. The French Republic supported the spread of republican principles in Europe. According to Paul D. Van Wie most of these sister republics became a means of controlling occupied lands as client regimes through a mix of French and local power. Subalpine Republic (1800–1802) annexed to the French Republic Piedmontese Republic (1798–1799), conquered by Austro-Russian troops and rendered back to Sardinia, but reconquered by Napoleon in 1800 and renamed Subalpine Republic (Novara to the Italian Republic) Republic of Alba (1796) reconquered by the Kingdom of Sardinia Parthenopean Republic (1799) reconquered by the Sanfedisti for the King of Naples and Sicily Republic of Pescara (1799) re-united with the Kingdom of Naples Roman Republic (1798–1799) ended with the restoration of the Papal States Anconine Republic (1797–1798) joined Roman Republic Tiberina Republic (1798–1799) joined Roman Republic Ligurian Republic (1797–1805) annexed to the French Empire Republic of Lucca (1799 and 1800–01), later continued (1801–05) under the old oligarchy and it was replaced by the Principality of Lucca and Piombino Italian Republic (1802–1805) transformed into the Kingdom of Italy Ci