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List of French colonial trading companies

This is a list of French colonial trading companies established under a royal charter to conduct trade between France and its colonies. Although more limited trading companies were established in the 16th century, they expanded greatly in the 17th century following on the models established by the British East India Company and the Dutch East India Company.[1] Beginning in 1626, Cardinal Richelieu, acting as Grandmaster of Navigation and Commerce, authorized a range of companies to monopolize trade around the world in line with French interests, as well as expand French colonies and convert local populations to Catholicism. These ambitions were further expanded under Jean-Baptiste Colbert with the founding of the French East and West Indies companies in 1664.[2]

The company charters were usually limited to a specific commodity or region, but over time and through mergers the reach of these companies could change dramatically. Their charter could also include oversight and control of colonies, including ensuring security, issuing currency, and imposing local taxes. They also often engaged in military conflicts to protect their trade monopolies.[3]

List of French chartered companies

See also

References

  1. Jean-Marie Thiveaud. Les grandes sociétés par actions et les compagnies coloniales de l'Europe des temps modernes du XVI–XVIIe siècle Revue d'économie financière, 1999^
  2. Alfred Comyn Lyall. History of India 1907^
  3. Catherine Desbarats. Commercial Companies BnF Amériques/Americas, May 2021, retrieved 2024-10-14^
  4. George van Driem. The tale of tea: a comprehensive history of tea from prehistoric times to the present day Brill, 2019^
  5. Jean-Yves Le Lan. Le commerce français avec l'Asie avant la Compagnie des Indes Orientales de Colbert Histoire-Généalogie, 2003-11-01^
  6. François Droüin. Je me souviens: il y a 400 ans: création de la Compagnie des marchands de Rouen et de Saint-Malo Cap-aux-Diamants: La revue d'histoire du Québec, 2014^
  7. Compagnie du Cap Vert (1624-1664) IdRef - Identifiants et Référentiels pour l'ESR^
  8. Mona Georgelin. Les compagnies – histoire et culture des caraibes et des antilles Mamanthé, retrieved 2024-11-20^
  9. John Boyko. Company of One Hundred Associates The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2013-12-16^
  10. Communauté des habitants The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2014-03-07^
  11. La Compagnie des Indes Malouinière de la Ville Bague, retrieved 2024-10-18^
  12. Dale Miquelon. Compagnie du Nord The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2013-12-15^
  13. Colin A. Palmer. Africans in Bondage: Studies in Slavery and the Slave Trade African Studies Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1986, retrieved 2017-07-13^