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. Beginning in 1626, Cardinal Richelieu, acting as , 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.
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.
List of French chartered companies founded dissolved name also known as area of operation notes 1601 1604 East Indiesfailed 1604 1615 Compagnie Le Roy et Godefroy East Indiessucceeded by the Compagnie des Moluques 1611 ? Compagnie de Montmorency pour les Indes Orientales East Indiesfailed 1614 1627 Compagnie de Rouen Canadamerged into the Compagnie de la Nouvelle-France 1615 1627 Compagnie des Moluques East Indiesfailed 1621 1627 Canadamerged into the Compagnie de la Nouvelle-France 1624 1634 Compagnie du Sénégal et de Gambie West Africarenamed Compagnie du Cap Vert 1626 1628 Compagnie de la Nacelle de Saint Pierre fleurdelysée Compagnie du Saint Esprit Atlantic fisheriesfailed 1626 1635 Compagnie de Saint-Christophe Saint Kitts and Nevissucceeded by Compagnie des îles d'Amérique 1626 1659 Compagnie Rozée West Africamerged into the Compagnie du Cap-Vert et du Sénégal 1627 1663 Compagnie de la Nouvelle-France Compagnie des Cent-Associés Canadabecame a royal province then succeeded by Compagnie française des Indes Occidentales 1633 1652 French Guianaacquired by the second Compagnie de la France équinoxiale 1634 1658 Compagnie du Cap Vert West Africarenamed Compagnie du Cap-Vert et du Sénégal 1635 1651 Compagnie des îles d'Amérique Caribbeanmerged into the Compagnie française des Indes Occidentales 1637 1664 Compagnie de Madagascar Madagascarmerged into the Compagnie française des Indes Orientales 1642 1664 Compagnie d'Orient Madagascarmerged into the Compagnie française des Indes Orientales 1644 1669 Compagnie du Nord Compagnie de la mer Baltique Scandinavia/Baltic Seafailed 1644 1663 Compagnie des Habitants Communauté des Habitants Canadasplit off fur-trading activities of the Compagnie de la Nouvelle-France 1651 1653 Compagnie de la France équinoxiale French Guianasucceeded by the second Compagnie de la France équinoxiale 1658 1664 West Africamerged into the Compagnie française des Indes Occidentales 1660 1664 Compagnie de Chine Chinasucceeded by the Compagnie française des Indes Orientales 1663 1664 Compagnie de la France équinoxiale Compagnie de Cayenne French Guianamerged into the Compagnie française des Indes Occidentales 1664 1674 Compagnie française des Indes Occidentales Canada, West Africa, Caribbean, French Guianaliquidated 1664 1719 Compagnie française des Indes Orientales East Africa, India, China, East Indiesmerged into John Law's Compagnie des Indes 1670 1685 Middle Eastsucceeded by the Compagnie de la Méditerranée 1673 1681 Compagnie du Sénégal West Africasucceeded, in part, by the Compagnie de Guinée 1675 1675 Compagnie d'Occident Canada & Caribbeanbecame the Ferme d'Occident 1675 1791 Ferme d'Ouest Canada & Caribbean 1682 1700 Compagnie de la Baie du Nord Compagnie du Nord Hudson Baymerged into the Compagnie de la Colonie 1684 1720 West Africamerged with the Compagnie de l'Asiento and then into the Compagnie perpétuelle des Indes 1685 1693 Compagnie de la Méditerranée Middle Eastfailed 1685 Compagnie David Gradis et fils Société française pour le commerce avec l'Outre-mer Caribbeanstill in operation. 1694 1718 Compagnie d'Afrique North Africamerged into John Law's Compagnie des Indes 1696 1702 Compagnie royal du Sénégal West Africamerged with the Compagnie de l'Asiento 1698 1720 Compagnie royale de la mer Pacifique South Pacificmerged into John Law's Compagnie des Indes 1698 1720 Compagnie de Saint-Domingue Saint-Dominguemerged into John Law's Compagnie des Indes 1698 1719 Compagnie de Chine Chinamerged into John Law's Compagnie des Indes 1699 1706 Compagnie de la Colonie Compagnie du castor Canadafailed 1701 1713 West Africa & Caribbeanexisted to provide enslaved Africans to Spanish colonies under the Asiento de Negros; abandoned following the Treaty of Utrecht 1709 1718 Compagnie du Sénégal West Africamerged into John Law's Compagnie des Indes 1712 1719 Compagnie de Barbarie North Africamerged into John Law's Compagnie des Indes 1712 1717 Louisianamerged into John Law's Compagnie d'Occident 1717 1719 Compagnie d'Occident Canada, Louisiana & Caribbeanmerged into the Compagnie des Indes 1719 1770 French Indies Company Worldwidepart of John Law's System, then reorganized in 1723; liquidated in 1770 1741 1793 North Africaslave traders; slavery in France abolished in February 1794 1748 1793 Compagnie d'Angola Angolaslave traders; slavery in France abolished in February 1794 1748 1793 Compagnie de Guinée Gulf of Guineaslave traders; slavery in France abolished in February 1794 1785 1794 Compagnie de Calonne Asialiquidated during French Revolution
References
See also Chartered company List of chartered companies