Map of the first (light blue) and second (dark blue — plain and hachured) French colonial empires

For the French colonial postage stamps, see French Colonies.

France had colonial possessions, in various forms, from the beginning of the 17th century until the 1960s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, its global colonial empire was the second largest in the world behind the British Empire. At its peak, between 1919 and 1939, the second French colonial empire extended over 12,347,000 km² (4,767,000 sq. miles) of land. Including metropolitan France, the total area of land under French sovereignty reached 12,898,000 km² (4,980,000 sq. miles) in the 1900s and 1930s, which is 8.6% of the world's land area. Download high resolution version (1357x628, 23 KB){{GFDL} File links The following pages link to this file: French colonial empires ... Download high resolution version (1357x628, 23 KB){{GFDL} File links The following pages link to this file: French colonial empires ... French Colonies is the name used by philatelists to refer to the postage stamps issued by France for use in the parts of the French colonial empire that did not have stamps of their own. ... It has been suggested that Colonisation be merged into this article or section. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... A global empire involves the extension of a states sovereignty over territories all around the world. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Metropolitan France (French: France métropolitaine, or just la Métropole) is the part of France in Europe, including Corsica, as opposed to the overseas departments and overseas territories, which, while integral parts of the French Republic, are regarded as Overseas France (la France doutre-mer, or more colloquially... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political (e. ... To help compare sizes of different areas, here is a list of areas between 10 million km² and 100 million km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ...

Currently, the remnants of this large empire are hundreds of islands and archipelagos located in the North Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, the South Pacific, the North Pacific, and the Antarctic Ocean, as well as one mainland territory in South America, totaling altogether 123,150 km² (47,548 sq. miles), which amounts to only 1% of the pre-1939 French colonial empire's area, with 2,543,000 people living in them in 2006. All of these enjoy full political representation at the national level, as well as varying degrees of legislative autonomy. (See Administrative divisions of France.) What exactly constitutes an Empire (from the Latin imperium, denoting military command within the ancient Roman government) is a topic of intense debate within the scholarly community. ... An archipelago is a landform which consists of a chain or cluster of islands. ... For other uses, see Atlantic (disambiguation) The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ... World map depicting Caribbean : West Indies redirects here. ... Pacific redirects here. ... For other meanings of pacific, see pacific (disambiguation). ... The Southern Ocean is the body of water encircling the continent of Antarctica. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 km² and 1,000,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Metropolitan (i. ...

First French colonial empire

The early voyages of Giovanni da Verrazzano and Jacques Cartier in the early 16th century, as well as the frequent voyages of French fishermen to the Grand Banks off Newfoundland throughout that century, were the precursors to the story of France's colonial expansion. But Spain's jealous protection of its American monopoly, and the disruptions caused in France itself by the Wars of Religion in the later 16th century, prevented any consistent efforts by France to establish colonies. Early French attempts to found colonies in Brazil, in 1555 at Rio de Janeiro (the so-called France Antarctique) and in 1612 at São Luís (the so-called France Équinoxiale), and in Florida (including Fort Caroline in 1562) were not successful, due to Portuguese and Spanish vigilance and prevention. Giovanni da Verrazzano (c. ... Portrait of Jacques Cartier by Théophile Hamel, ca. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Map showing the Grand Banks Historic map of the Grand Banks. ... Newfoundland —   (stress on final syllable; for mispronunciations, see Newfoundland travel guide from Wikitravel)— (French: , Irish: ) is a large island off the east coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... The French Wars of Religion were a series of conflicts fought between Catholics and Huguenots (Protestants) from the middle of the sixteenth century to the Edict of Nantes in 1598, including civil infighting as well as military operations. ... Events Russia breaks 60 year old truce with Sweden by attacking Finland February 2 - Diet of Augsburg begins February 4 - John Rogers becomes first Protestant martyr in England February 9 - Bishop of Gloucester John Hooper is burned at the stake May 23 - Paul IV becomes Pope. ... Location of Rio de Janeiro Coordinates: Country Brazil Region Southeast State Rio de Janeiro Mayor Cesar Maia (PFL) Area    - City 1,260 km² Population    - City (2005) 5,613,000 [1]  - Density 4,781/km²  - Metro 11,620,000 [2] Time zone UTC-3 (UTC-3) Website: www. ... France Antarctique was the name of the failed French colony south of the Equator, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which existed between 1555 and 1567. ... Events January 20 - Mathias becomes Holy Roman Emperor. ... São Luís is the capital of the state of Maranhão, Brazil. ... Equinoxial France was the contemporary name given to the colonization efforts of France in the 17th century in South America, around the line of Equator, before tropical had fully gained its modern meaning: Equinoctial means in Latin of equal nights, i. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Fort Caroline was the first permanent French colony in North America, located in present-day Jacksonville, Florida. ...

The story of France's colonial empire truly began on July 27, 1605, with the foundation of Port Royal in the colony of Acadia in North America, in what is now Nova Scotia, Canada. A few years later, in 1608, Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec, which was to become the capital of the enormous, but sparsely settled, fur-trading colony of New France (also called Canada). July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... 1605 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Port Royal is a small rural community in the western part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. ... The national flag of Acadia, adopted in 1884. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Official languages none (English, French, Gaelic) Flower Trailing arbutus Tree Red Spruce Bird Osprey Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seats  - Senate seats 11 10 Area... Events March 18 - Sissinios formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia May 14 - Protestant Union founded in Auhausen. ... Samuel de Champlain by Théophile Hamel (1870) Samuel de Champlain (c. ... Motto : « Don de Dieu feray valoir Â» (I shall put Gods gift to good use) Site in the province of Quebec Official logo Country  Canada Province Québec Agglomeration Quebec City Statute of the city Capitale-Nationale Administrative Region Capitale-Nationale Constitution date 1833 Geographical code 24 23027 Founder Foundation... New France (French: ) describes the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River, by Jacques Cartier in 1534, to the cession of New France to the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1763. ...

Although, through alliances with various Native American tribes, the French were able to exert a loose control over much of the North American continent, areas of French settlement were generally limited to the St. Lawrence River Valley. Prior to the establishment of the 1663 Sovereign Council, the territories of New France were developed as mercantile colonies. It is only after the arrival of intendant Jean Talon that France gave its American colonies the proper means to develop population colonies comparable to that of the British. But there was relatively little interest in colonialism in France, which concentrated rather on dominance within Europe, and for most of the history of New France, even Canada was far behind the British North American colonies in both population and economic development. Acadia itself was lost to the British in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. An Aani (Atsina) named Assiniboin Boy. ... The Saint Lawrence River (French fleuve Saint-Laurent) is a large west-to-east flowing river in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. ... // Events Prix de Rome scholarship established for students of the arts. ... See also Marché Jean-Talon for the farmers market in Montreal, Canada. ... British North America was an informal term first used in 1783, but uncommon before the Report on the Affairs of British North America (1839), called the Durham Report. ... The Treaties of Utrecht (April 11, 1713) were signed in Utrecht, a city of the United Provinces. ... // Events April 11 - War of the Spanish Succession: Treaty of Utrecht June 23 - French residents of Acadia given one year to declare allegiance to Britain or leave Nova Scotia Canada first Orrery built by George Graham Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713...

In 1699, French territorial claims in North America expanded still further, with the foundation of Louisiana in the basin of the Mississippi River. The extensive trading network throughout the region connected to Canada through the Great Lakes, was maintained through a vast system of fortifications, many of them centered in the Illinois Country and in present-day Arkansas. Events January 26 - Treaty of Karlowitz signed March 30 - the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa. ... Louisiana (French: La Louisiane) was the name of an administrative district of New France. ... The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe word misi-ziibi meaning great river (gichi-ziibi big river at its headwaters), is the second-longest river in the United States; the longest is the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi. ... The Great Lakes from space The Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ... French settlements and forts in the Illinois Country in 1763, showing U.S. current state boundaries. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,732 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ...

As the French empire in North America expanded, the French also began to build a smaller but more profitable empire in the West Indies. Settlement along the South American coast in what is today French Guiana began in 1624, and a colony was founded on Saint Kitts in 1625 (the island had to be shared with the English until the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, when it was ceded outright). The Compagnie des Îles de l'Amérique founded colonies in Guadeloupe and Martinique in 1635, and a colony was later founded on Saint Lucia by (1650). The food-producing plantations of these colonies were built and sustained through slavery, with the supply of slaves dependent on the African slave trade. Local resistance by the indigenous peoples resulted in the Carib Expulsion of 1660. The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... Events January 24 - Alfonso Mendez, appointed by Pope Gregory XV as Prelate of Ethiopia, arrives at Massawa from Goa. ... Saint Kitts (also/previously known as Saint Christopher) is an island in the Caribbean. ... Events March 27 - Prince Charles Stuart becomes King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland. ... The Compagnie des ÃŽles de lAmérique, French for Company of the American Islands, was a French chartered company which exploited the following Antillian islands: Guadeloupe (28 June 1635 to 1649) Martinique (15 September 1635 to 1650) Saint-Christophe island (1635 - 1651) in present Saint Kitts and Nevis Source... Events February 10 - The Académie française in Paris is expanded to become a national academy for the artistic elite. ... // Events June 23 - Claimant King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland arrives in Scotland, the only of the three Kingdoms that has accepted him as ruler. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Trade in slaves has carried on for thousands of years in Africa. ... A Hupa man. ... The Carib Expulsion took place in 1660. ...

The most important Caribbean colonial possession did not come until 1664, when the colony of Saint-Domingue (today's Haiti) was founded on the western half of the Spanish island of Hispaniola. In the 18th century, Saint-Domingue grew to be the richest sugar colony in the Caribbean. The eastern half of Hispaniola (today's Dominican Republic) also came under French rule for a short period, after being given to France by Spain in 1795. Events March 12 - New Jersey becomes a colony of England. ... Saint-Domingue was a French colony from 1697 to 1804 that is today the independent nation of Haiti. ... Early map of Hispaniola The island of Hispaniola (from Spanish, La Española) is the second-largest island of the Antilles, lying between the islands of Cuba to the west, and Puerto Rico to the east. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Magnification of typical sugar showing monoclinic hemihedral crystal stucture. ... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

French colonial expansion was not limited to the New World, however. In Senegal in West Africa, the French began to establish trading posts along the coast in 1624. In 1664, the French East India Company was established to compete for trade in the east. Colonies were established in India in Chandernagore in Bengal (1673) and Pondicherry in the Southeast (1674), and later at Yanam (1723), Mahe (1725), and Karikal (1739) (see French India). Colonies were also founded in the Indian Ocean, on the Île de Bourbon (Réunion, 1664), Île de France (Mauritius, 1718), and the Seychelles (1756). Carte dAmérique, Guillaume Delisle, c. ...  Western Africa (UN subregion)  Maghreb West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ... Events January 24 - Alfonso Mendez, appointed by Pope Gregory XV as Prelate of Ethiopia, arrives at Massawa from Goa. ... Events March 12 - New Jersey becomes a colony of England. ... French and other European settlements in India. ... The far east as a cultural block includes East Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and South Asia. ... Chandannagar, formerly known as Chandernagore or Chandernagar, is a city in India. ... Bengal, known as Bôngo (Bengali: বঙ্গ), Bangla (বাংলা), Bôngodesh (বঙ্গদেশ), or Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ) in the Bengali language, is a region in the northeast of South Asia. ... 1673 (MDCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Map of Pondicherry Region, Union Territory of Pondicherry, India Pondicherry (Tamil:புதுவை,Hindi: पॉण्डिचेरी) is a Union Territory of India. ... Events February 19 - England and the Netherlands sign the Treaty of Westminster. ... Yanam or Yanaon is a district of the Union territory of Pondicherry and a town in that district. ... Events February 16 - Louis XV of France attains his majority Births February 24 - John Burgoyne, British general (d. ... Categories: India geography stubs | Pondicherry ... Events February 8 - Catherine I became empress of Russia February 20 - The first reported case of white men scalping Native Americans takes place in New Hampshire colony. ... Categories: India geography stubs | Pondicherry | Cities and towns in India ... // About the number 1739 1739 is the smallest integer that can be written as sum of three perfect cubes, in two ways. ... French India is highlighted in light blue on the subcontinent. ... Events March 12 - New Jersey becomes a colony of England. ... // The Funj warrior aristocracy deposes the reigning mek and places one of their own ranks on the throne of Sennar. ... 1756 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Colonial conflict with Great Britain, 1744–1815

In the mid-18th century, a series of colonial conflicts began between France and the Kingdom of Great Britain, which would ultimately result in the demise of most of the first French colonial empire. These wars were the War of the Austrian Succession (1744–1748), the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), the War of the American Revolution (1778–1783), and the French Revolution (1793–1802) and Napoleonic (1803-1815) Wars. // Events The third French and Indian War, known as King Georges War, breaks out at Port Royal, Nova Scotia The First Saudi State founded by Mohammed Ibn Saud Prague occupied by Prussian armies Ongoing events War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) Births January 10 - Thomas Mifflin, fifth President... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right)1 Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Territory of the Kingdom of Great Britain Capital London Language(s) English Welsh (Wales) Scottish Gaelic (parts of Scotland) Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch  - 1707–1714 Anne  - 1714-1727 George I  - 1727-1760 George... The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) became inevitable after Maria Theresa of Austria had succeeded her father Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor in his Habsburg dominions in 1740, namely becoming Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, Archduchess of Austria, and Duchess of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla. ... // Events The third French and Indian War, known as King Georges War, breaks out at Port Royal, Nova Scotia The First Saudi State founded by Mohammed Ibn Saud Prague occupied by Prussian armies Ongoing events War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) Births January 10 - Thomas Mifflin, fifth President... Events April 24 - A congress assembles at Aix-la-Chapelle with the intent to conclude the struggle known as the War of Austrian Succession - at October 18 - The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle is signed to end the war Adam Smith begins to deliver public lectures in Edinburgh Building of... Combatants Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of Great Britain Hanover Kingdom of Ireland Portugal Brunswick Hesse-Kassel Austria France Russia Sweden Spain Saxony The Seven Years War (1754 and 1756–1763), some of the theatres of which are called the Pomeranian War and the French and Indian War (see below), was... 1756 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1763 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... This article is the current Esperanza Collaboration of the Month. ... 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1783 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants Great Britain Austria Prussia Spain Russian Empire Sardinia France The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, beginning in 1792 and lasting until the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states. ... 1793 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... --69. ... Combatants Allies: Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Spain[3] Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[5] Saxony[6] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack Gebhard von Blücher Duke of Brunswick Prince of Hohenlohe Mikhail Kutuzov... 1803 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Although the War of the Austrian Succession was indecisive — despite French successes in India under the French Governor-General Joseph François Dupleix — the Seven Years' War, after early French successes in Minorca and North America, saw a French defeat, with the numerically superior British (over one million to about 50 thousand French settlers) conquering not only New France (excluding the small islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon), but also most of France's West Indian (Caribbean) colonies, and all of the French Indian outposts. While the peace treaty saw France's Indian outposts, and the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe restored to France, the competition for influence in India had been won by the British, and North America was entirely lost — most of New France was taken by Britain (also refer to as British North America, except Louisiana, which France ceded to Spain as payment for Spain's late entrance into the war (and as compensation for Britain's annexation of Spanish Florida). Also ceded to the British were Grenada and Saint Lucia in the West Indies. Although the loss of Canada would cause much regret in future generations, it excited little unhappiness at the time; colonialism was widely regarded as both unimportant to France, and immoral. Joseph François Dupleix Joseph François Dupleix (January 1, 1697 — November 10, 1763) was governor general of the French establishment in India, and was the great rival of Robert Clive. ... Flag of Minorca This is a taula from the site of Talatì de Dalt about 4km west of Maó Minorca (Menorca both in Catalan and Spanish and increasingly in English usage; from Latin Balearis Minor, later Minorica minor island) is one of the Balearic Islands (Illes Balears Catalan official name... New France (French: ) describes the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River, by Jacques Cartier in 1534, to the cession of New France to the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1763. ... Motto: A Mare Labor(Latin) From the Sea, Work[citation needed] Anthem: La Marseillaise Capital (and largest city) Saint-Pierre French Government  - President of the General Council Stéphane Artano  - Préfet (Prefect) Yves Fauqueur Collectivité doutre-mera of France   - ceded by the UKe 30 May 1814   - Territoire d... French India is highlighted in light blue on the subcontinent. ... New France (French: ) describes the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River, by Jacques Cartier in 1534, to the cession of New France to the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1763. ... British North America was an informal term first used in 1783, but uncommon before the Report on the Affairs of British North America (1839), called the Durham Report. ...

Some recovery of the French colonial empire was made during the French intervention in the American Revolution, with Saint Lucia being returned to France by the Treaty of Paris in 1783, but not nearly as much as had been hoped for at the time of French intervention. True disaster came to what remained of France's colonial empire in 1791 when Saint Domingue (comprised of the Western third of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola ), France's richest and most important colony, was riven by a massive slave revolt, caused partly by the divisions among the island's elite, which had resulted from the French Revolution of 1789. The slaves, led eventually by Toussaint l'Ouverture and then, following his capture by the French in 1801, by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, held their own against French, Spanish, and British opponents, and ultimately achieved independence as Haiti in 1804 (Haiti became the first black republic in the world, much earlier than any of the future African nations). In the meanwhile, the newly resumed war with Britain by the French, resulted in the British capture of practically all remaining French colonies. These were restored at the Peace of Amiens in 1802, but when war resumed in 1803, the British soon recaptured them. France's repurchase of Louisiana in 1800 came to nothing, as the final success of the Haitian revolt convinced Bonaparte that holding Louisiana would not be worth the cost, leading to its sale to the United States in 1803 (the Louisiana Purchase). Nor was the French attempt to establish a colony in Egypt in 1798–1801 successful. Engraving based on the painting Action Between the Serapis and Bonhomme Richard by Richard Paton, published 1780. ... Painting by Benjamin West depicting (from left to right) John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and William Temple Franklin. ... 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Early map of Hispaniola The island of Hispaniola (from Spanish, La Española) is the second-largest island of the Antilles, lying between the islands of Cuba to the west, and Puerto Rico to the east. ... The French Revolution (1789–1799/1804) was a vital period in the history of French, European and Western civilization. ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... François-Dominique Toussaint LOuverture François-Dominique Toussaint LOuverture, also Toussaint Bréda, Toussaint-Louverture (c. ... The Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... Jean-Jacques Dessalines Jean-Jacques Dessalines (September 20, 1758–October 17, 1806) was a leader of the Haitian Revolution and an Emperor of Haiti (1804–1806 under the name of Jacques I). ... 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Treaty of Amiens was signed on March 25, 1802 (Germinal 4, year X in the French Revolutionary Calendar) by Joseph Bonaparte and the Marquis Cornwallis as a Definitive Treaty of Peace between France and Britain. ... --69. ... Bonaparte as general Napoleon Bonaparte ( 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution and was the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from November 11, 1799 to May 18, 1804, then as Emperor of the French (Empereur des... 1803 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... From Frank Bond, Louisiana and the Louisiana Purchase. ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ...

Second French colonial empire

At the close of the Napoleonic Wars, most of France's colonies were restored to it by Britain, notably Guadeloupe and Martinique in the West Indies, French Guiana on the coast of South America, various trading posts in Senegal, the Île Bourbon (Réunion) in the Indian Ocean, and France's tiny Indian possessions. Britain finally annexed Saint Lucia, Tobago, the Seychelles, and the Île de France (Mauritius), however. Combatants Allies: Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Spain[3] Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[5] Saxony[6] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack Gebhard von Blücher Duke of Brunswick Prince of Hohenlohe Mikhail Kutuzov... Castara village beach looking south, Tobago Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. ...

The true beginnings of the second French colonial empire, however, were laid in 1830 with the French invasion of Algeria, which was conquered over the next 17 years. During the Second Empire, headed by Napoleon III, an attempt was made to establish a colonial-type protectorate in Mexico, but this came to little, and the French were forced to abandon the experiment after the end of the American Civil War, when the American president invoked the Monroe Doctrine. This French intervention in Mexico lasted from 1861 to 1867. Napoleon III also established French control over Cochin-China (the southernmost part of modern Vietnam including Saigon), as well as a protectorate over Cambodia. Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 (MDCCCXXX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... // French rule in Algeria, 1830–1962 Most of Frances actions in Algeria, not least the invasion of Algiers, were propelled by contradictory impulses. ... The Second French Empire or Second Empire was the imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870, between the Second Republic and the Third Republic, in France. ... Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (April 20, 1808 - January 9, 1873) was the son of King Louis Bonaparte and Queen Hortense de Beauharnais; both monarchs of the French puppet state, the Kingdom of Holland. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Lincoln, President Ulysses S. Grant, General Jefferson Davis, President Robert E. Lee, General Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action... U.S. President James Monroe The Monroe Doctrine is a U.S. doctrine which, on December 2, 1823, proclaimed that European powers should no longer colonize or interfere with the affairs of, the nations of the Americas. ... Emperor Maximilian Napoleon III of France Juárez, republican leader and President The French intervention in Mexico was an invasion of Mexico by the army of the Second French Empire, and supported in the beginning by the British and Spanish. ... Cochin China (also known as Cochinchina Chu Nom 交趾支那 or in French, Cochinchine) was the southernmost part of Vietnam beside Cambodia. ... Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành Chí Minh) is the largest city in Vietnam, located near the delta of the Mekong River. ...

It was only after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871 and the founding of the Third Republic (1871-1940) that most of France's later colonial possessions were acquired. From their base in Cochin-China, the French took over Tonkin and Annam (in modern Vietnam) in 1884-1885. These, together with Cambodia and Cochin-China, formed French Indochina (to which Laos was added in 1887, and Kwang-Chou-Wan in 1900). In 1849, the French "concession" in Shanghai was established, lasting until 1946. The French also expanded their influence in North Africa, establishing a protectorate on Tunisia in 1881 (Bardo Treaty). Gradually, French control was established over much of Northern, Western, and Central Africa by the turn of the century (including the modern nations of Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo), as well as the east African coastal enclave of Djibouti (French Somaliland). The Voulet-Chanoine Mission, a military expedition, was sent out from Senegal in 1898 to conquer the Chad Basin and unify all French territories in West Africa. This expedition operated jointly with two other expeditions, the Foureau-Lamy and Gentil missions, which advanced from Algeria and Middle Congo respectively. With the death of the Muslim warlord Rabih az-Zubayr, the greatest ruler in the region, and the creation of the Military Territory of Chad in 1900, the Voulet-Chanoine Mission had accomplished all its goals. The ruthlessness of the mission provoked a scandal in Paris. In 1911, Morocco became a French protectorate. Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with south German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III Helmuth von Moltke Strength 500,000[] 550,000[] Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian [] 100,000 dead or wounded 200,000 civilian [] The Franco-Prussian War... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The French Third Republic, (in French, La Troisième République, sometimes written as La IIIe République) (1870/75-10 July 1940) was the governing body of France between the Second French Empire and the Vichy Regime. ... Tonkin, also spelled Tongkin or Tongking, is the northernmost part of Vietnam, south of Chinas Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces, east of northern Laos, and west of the Gulf of Tonkin. ... Annam, literally meaning Pacified South, is a region of central Vietnam that fell under Chinese rule in 111 BC as Annan (安南). Known locally as Trung Bá»™, meaning Central Boundary, it was formerly a kingdom the size of Sweden with its capital at Huế. It had been seized by the French... 1884 (MDCCCLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Tuesday (click on link to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... French Indochina was a federation of protectorates in Southeast Asia, part of the French colonial empire. ... Kwang-Chou-Wan (廣州灣), or Kwangchowan, was a small enclave on the south coast of China conceded by China to France as a leased territory. ... Shanghai (Chinese: ; pinyin:  ; Shanghainese: ), situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China, is the largest city of the Peoples Republic of China and the eighth largest in the world. ...  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent. ... 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Republic of Djibouti (جيبوتي) is a country in eastern Africa, located in the Horn of Africa. ... The Voulet-Chanoine Mission or Central African Mission (in French mission Afrique Centrale) was a French military expedition sent out from Senegal in 1898 to conquer the Chad Basin and unify all French territories in West Africa. ... Rabih az-Zubayr was a Sudanese warlord who established a powerful kingdom west of Lake Chad, in todays Chad. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ...

At this time, the French also established colonies in the South Pacific, including New Caledonia, the various island groups which make up French Polynesia (including the Society Islands, the Marquesas, the Tuamotus), and established joint control of the New Hebrides with Britain. The Society Islands (French: Îles de la Société or offically Archipel de la Société) are a group of islands in the south Pacific, administratively part of French Polynesia. ... The Marquesas Islands is a group of islands in French Polynesia. ... A Satellite photo of the Acteon Group, 4 atolls in the southeastern Tuamotus. ... The New Hebrides are an island group in the South Pacific that now form the nation of Vanuatu. ...

The French made their last major colonial gains after the First World War, when they gained mandates over the former Turkish territories of the Ottoman Empire that make up what is now Syria and Lebanon, as well as most of the former German colonies of Togo and Cameroon. A hallmark of the French colonial project in the late 19th century and early 20th century was the civilizing mission (mission civilisatrice), the principle that it was Europe's duty to bring civilization to benighted peoples. As such, colonial officials undertook a policy of Franco-Europeanization in French colonies, most notably French West Africa. Africans who adopted French culture, including fluent use of the French language and conversion to Christianity, were granted equal French citizenship, including suffrage. Later, residents of the "Four Communes" in Senegal were granted citizenship in a program led by the Afro-French politician Blaise Diagne. Combatants Allied Powers: British Empire France Italy Russia United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Commanders Ferdinand Foch Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Wilhelm II Paul... Motto: دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem: Ottoman imperial anthem At the height of its power (1680) Capital Söğüt (1299-1326) Bursa (1326-1365) Edirne (1365-1453) Constantinople (Istanbul) (1453-1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 Osman I  - 1918–1922 Mehmed VI... The civilization mission (mission civilisatrice in French) was the underlying principle of French colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuryies. ... Location of French West Africa French West Africa (French: ) was a federation of eight French territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan (now Mali), French Guinea (now Guinea), Côte dIvoire, Niger, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and Dahomey (now Benin). ... Blaise Diagne ( 1872 - 1934) was a Senegalise politician who advocated for African participation in politics and fair treatment of ethnic minorities in the French army. ...

Collapse of the empire

Main article: Decolonisation

The French colonial empire began to fall apart during the Second World War, when various parts of their empire were occupied by foreign powers (Japan in Indochina, Britain in Syria, Lebanon, and Madagascar, the US and Britain in Morocco and Algeria, and Germany in Tunisia). However, control was gradually reestablished by Charles de Gaulle. The French Union, included in the 1946 Constitution, replaced the former colonial Empire. Decolonization generally refers to a movement following the Second World War in which the various European colonies of the world were granted independence. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle ( ) (22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970), in France commonly referred to as Général de Gaulle, was a French military leader and statesman. ... Established by the French constitution of October 27, 1946, the French Union (French: Union Française) was a political entity created to replace the old French colonial system, the French Empire (Empire français). ...

However, France was immediately confronted with the beginnings of the decolonization movement. Paul Ramadier (SFIO)'s cabinet repressed the Malagasy insurrection in 1947. In Asia, Ho Chi Minh's Vietminh declared Vietnam's independence, starting the Indochina War. When this ended with French defeat and withdrawal in 1954, the French almost immediately became involved in a new, and even harsher conflict in their oldest major colony, Algeria. Ferhat Abbas and Messali Hadj's movements had marked the period between the two wars, but both sides radicalized after the Second World War. In 1945, the Sétif massacre was carried on by the French army. The Algerian War started in 1954. Algeria was particularly problematic for the French, due to the large number of European settlers (or pieds-noirs) who had settled there in the century and a quarter of French rule. Charles de Gaulle's accession to power in 1958 in the middle of the crisis ultimately led to independence for Algeria with the 1962 Evian Accords. Colonialism in 1945 Decolonization refers to the achievement of independence by the various Western colonies and protectorates in Asia and Africa following World War II. This conforms with an intellectual movement known as Post-Colonialism. ... French prime minister Paul Ramadier Paul Ramadier (March 17, 1888 - October 14, 1961) was a prominent French Socialist politician of the Third and Fourth Republics. ... Sfio, or Safe/Fast I/O, is an I/O library developed by AT&T Research, with several improvements over the ANSI C stdio library. ... The written history of Madagascar began in the seventh century A.D., when Arabs established trading posts along the northwest coast. ... Hồ Chí Minh   (Chinese: 胡志明; May 19, 1890 – September 2, 1969) was a Vietnamese revolutionary and statesman, who later became Prime Minister (1946–1955) and President (1955–1969) of North Vietnam. ... The Viet Minh (abbreviated from Việt Nam Ðộc Lập Ðồng Minh Hội, League for the Independence of Vietnam) was formed by Ho Ngoc Lam and Nguyen Hai Than in 1941 to seek independence for Vietnam from France. ... Combatants French Colonialists Việt Minh Strength 500,000  ? Casualties 94,581 dead 78,127 wounded 40,000 captured 300,000+ dead 500,000+ wounded 100,000 captured The First Indochina War (also called the French Indochina War, the French War or the Franco-Vietnamese War) was fought in Indochina... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ferhat Abbas was born in Douar Chemala near Jijel, Algeria on 24 October 1899 and died on 23 December 1985. ... Messali Hadj (مصالي الحاج) was the founder of the Mouvement National Algérien, an early Algerian nationalist group and rival of the Front de Libération Nationale. ... Image:Algeria-Sétif. ... Combatants FLN (1954-62) MNA (1954-62) France (1954-62) FAF (1960-61) OAS (1961-62) Commanders Ferhat Abbas Hocine Aït Ahmed Ahmed Ben Bella Krim Belkacem Larbi Ben MHidi Rabah Bitat Mohamed Boudiaf Messali Hadj Pierre Mendès-France General Jacques Massu General Maurice Challe Charles de... Pied-noir (plural: pieds-noirs) is a term for the former population of European descent of North Africa, especially Algeria. ... Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle ( ) (22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970), in France commonly referred to as Général de Gaulle, was a French military leader and statesman. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... -1...

The French Union was replaced in the new 1958 Constitution by the French Community. Only Guinea refused by referendum to take part to the new colonial organization. However, the French Community dissolved itself in the midsts of the Algerian War; all of the other African colonies were granted independence in 1960, following local referendums. Some few colonies chose instead to remain part of France, under the statuses of overseas départements (territories). Critics of neocolonialism claimed that the Françafrique had replaced formal direct rule. They argued that while de Gaulle was granting independence on one hand, he was creating new ties through Jacques Foccart's help, his counsellor for African matters. Foccart supported in particular the Biafra secession (or Nigerian civil war) during the late 1960s. The French Community was the political entity which replaced the French Union, which in turn was the descendant of the French Empire following the Second World War. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... Ballots of the Argentine plebiscite of 1984 on the border treaty with Chile A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, originally a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... The French Overseas Departments and Territories (often abbreviated DOM-TOM for départements doutre-mer, territoires doutre-mer) consist broadly of French-administered territories outside of Europe. ... Definition from Oxford English Dictionary: The use of economic, political, cultural, or other pressures to control or influence another country; esp. ... Françafrique is a term first used by president of the Côte dIvoire Félix Houphouët-Boigny, and borrowed to him by François-Xavier Verschave in a critic of Frances neocolonialism in Africa. ... Jacques Foccart (1914–1997) was French President Charles de Gaulles and then Georges Pompidous spindoctor for African policy, who founded in 1959 the Gaullist organization Service dAction Civique (SAC) with Charles Pasqua, which specialized in shady operations. ... Combatants Nigerian federal government Republic of Biafra Commanders Yakubu Gowon Odumegwu Ojukwu Casualties Estimated 2,000,000 civilians The Nigerian Civil War, July 6, 1967 – January 13, 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed republic of Biafra. ...

Extent of the French colonial empires

Here is a list of all the countries that were part of the French colonial empires in the last 500 years, either entirely or in part, either under French sovereignty or as mandate or protectorate. When only a part of the country was under French rule, that part is listed in parentheses after the country. When there are no parentheses, it means the whole country was formerly part of any one of the French colonial empires. Countries listed are those where French sovereignty applied effectively. Areas that were only claimed, but not effectively controlled (such as Manhattan or Western Australia) are not listed. The Borough of Manhattan, highlighted in yellow, lies between the East River and the Hudson River. ... Emblems: Floral - Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos manglesii); Mammal - Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus); Bird - Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) Motto: none Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Const. ...

"1st" means the country/territory was part of the first French colonial empire. "2nd" means the country/territory was part of the second French colonial empire. "Now" means this is a territory still part of the French Republic today.

The Americas

North America

• Canada (most of eastern and central Canada) -- 1st
• Saint-Pierre and Miquelon -- 1st, 2nd, & now
• United States (entire basin of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, Great Lakes) -- 1st

Motto: A Mare Labor(Latin) From the Sea, Work[citation needed] Anthem: La Marseillaise Capital (and largest city) Saint-Pierre French Government  - President of the General Council Stéphane Artano  - Préfet (Prefect) Yves Fauqueur Collectivité doutre-mera of France   - ceded by the UKe 30 May 1814   - Territoire d... The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe word misi-ziibi meaning great river (gichi-ziibi big river at its headwaters), is the second-longest river in the United States; the longest is the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi. ... The Missouri River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the United States. ... The Great Lakes from space The Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ...

Caribbean

• Anguilla (briefly) -- 1st
• Antigua and Barbuda (briefly) -- 1st
• Dominica -- 1st
• Dominican Republic (briefly) -- 1st
• Grenada -- 1st
• Guadeloupe -- 1st, 2nd, & now
• Haiti -- 1st
• Martinique -- 1st, 2nd, & now
• Montserrat (briefly) -- 1st
• Saint Martin (northern half only) -- 1st, 2nd, & now
• Saint-Barthélemy -- 1st, 2nd, & now
• Saint Lucia -- 1st
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines -- 1st
• Sint Eustatius (briefly) -- 1st
• St Kitts and Nevis (St Kitts, but not Nevis) -- 1st
• Trinidad and Tobago (Tobago only) -- 1st
• US Virgin Islands (Saint Croix only) -- 1st

St. ... Gustavia Harbor, St. ... Map showing location of Sint Eustatius relative to Saba and Sint Maarten/Saint Martin Sint Eustatius (also Saint Eustace and Statia) is one of the islands making up the Netherlands Antilles; it is in the northern, Leeward Islands portion of this territory, to the east of the Virgin Islands at... Saint Kitts and Nevis is an island nation in the Caribbean. ... Official language English Political status State in the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis Premier Joseph Parry Deputy Governor-General[1] Eustace John President, Nevis Island Assembly Marjorie Morton Capital Charlestown, Nevis Area  - Total (Not ranked) 35. ... Castara village beach looking south, Tobago Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. ... Saint Croix from space, January 1993 Saint Croix is one of the United States Virgin Islands, a United States territory, in the Caribbean. ...

South America

• Brazil (Rio de Janeiro briefly, and São Luís briefly) -- 1st

(see France Antarctique and France Équinoxiale) Location of Rio de Janeiro Coordinates: Country Brazil Region Southeast State Rio de Janeiro Mayor Cesar Maia (PFL) Area    - City 1,260 km² Population    - City (2005) 5,613,000 [1]  - Density 4,781/km²  - Metro 11,620,000 [2] Time zone UTC-3 (UTC-3) Website: www. ... São Luís is the capital of the state of Maranhão, Brazil. ... France Antarctique was the name of the failed French colony south of the Equator, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which existed between 1555 and 1567. ... Equinoxial France was the contemporary name given to the colonization efforts of France in the 17th century in South America, around the line of Equator, before tropical had fully gained its modern meaning: Equinoctial means in Latin of equal nights, i. ...

• French Guiana -- 1st, 2nd, & now

Africa

North Africa

• Morocco (89% of Morocco) -- 2nd
• Algeria -- 2nd
• Tunisia -- 2nd

West Africa

• Benin (as Dahomey) -- 2nd
• Burkina Faso (as Upper Volta)-- 2nd
• Côte d'Ivoire -- 2nd
• Guinea -- 2nd
• Mali (as French Sudan) -- 2nd
• Mauritania -- 2nd
• Niger -- 2nd
• Senegal -- 1st & 2nd
• Togo -- 2nd

Equatorial Africa

• Cameroon (91% of Cameroon) -- 2nd
• Central African Republic (as Oubangui Chari)-- 2nd
• Chad -- 2nd
• Gabon -- 2nd
• Republic of the Congo ('Congo-Brazzaville') -- 2nd

Indian Ocean

• Comoros -- 2nd
• Madagascar -- 2nd
• Mauritius -- 1st
• Mayotte - 2nd & now
• Réunion -- 1st, 2nd, & now
• Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean - 2nd & now
• Seychelles -- 1st
• Tanzania (Zanzibar, briefly) -- 2nd

Location of the Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean: • 1 : Bassas da India • 2 : Europa Island • 3 : Glorioso Islands • 4 : Juan de Nova Island • 5 : Tromelin Island (KM : Comoros, MG : Madagascar, MU : Mauritius, MZ : Mozambique, RE : Réunion, YT : Mayotte) The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (French: ÃŽles Éparses... Motto: Uhuru na Umoja (Swahili: Freedom and Unity) Anthem: Mungu ibariki Afrika (God Bless Africa) Capital (and largest city) Stone Town English Government Republic  - President Amani Abeid Karume  - Prime Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha Independence From the United Kingdom   - Tanganyika December 9, 1961   - Zanzibar December 19, 1963   - Merge April 26, 1964...

Red Sea

• Djibouti (as French Somaliland) -- 2nd
• Yemen (Cheikh Saïd peninsula) -- 2nd

Cheikh Saïd is a rocky peninsula in Yemen, near the island of Perim on the Bab-el-Mandeb at the entrance to the Red Sea. ...

Asia

Middle East

• Lebanon -- 2nd
• Syria -- 2nd
• Sanjak of Alexandretta, (now called Hatay Province and part of Turkey)

Location of Hatay Province Flag of the Republic of Hatay (1938-1939) Hatay is a province of southern Turkey, situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and Syria to the south and east. ... shows the Location of the Province Hatay Flag of the Republic of Hatay (1938-1939) Hatay is a province of southern Turkey, situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and Syria to the south and east. ...

South Asia

• India
  • half of India (French India)-- 1st
  • only Pondicherry, Karikal, Yanaon, Mahé, and Chandernagore -- 2nd

French India is highlighted in light blue on the subcontinent. ... Map of Pondicherry Region, Union Territory of Pondicherry, India Pondicherry (Tamil:புதுவை,Hindi: पॉण्डिचेरी) is a Union Territory of India. ... Categories: India geography stubs | Pondicherry | Cities and towns in India ... Yanam or Yanaon is a district of the Union territory of Pondicherry and a town in that district. ... Mahé, also known as Mayyazhi, is a former French colony in India. ... Chandannagar, formerly known as Chandernagore or Chandernagar, is a city in India. ...

Southeast Asia

• French Indochina - 2nd
  • Annam, Tonkin, Cochin China (all part of Vietnam)
  • Cambodia
  • Laos

French Indochina was a federation of protectorates in Southeast Asia, part of the French colonial empire. ... Annam, literally meaning Pacified South, is a region of central Vietnam that fell under Chinese rule in 111 BC as Annan (安南). Known locally as Trung Bộ, meaning Central Boundary, it was formerly a kingdom the size of Sweden with its capital at Huế. It had been seized by the French... Tonkin, also spelled Tongkin or Tongking, is the northernmost part of Vietnam, south of Chinas Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces, east of northern Laos, and west of the Gulf of Tonkin. ... Cochin China (also known as Cochinchina or in French, Cochinchine) was the southernmost part of Vietnam beside Cambodia. ...

Oceania

• Clipperton - 2nd & now
• New Caledonia -- 2nd & now
• French Polynesia -- 2nd & now
• Vanuatu (condominium shared with the British Empire) -- 2nd
• Wallis and Futuna -- 2nd & now

Clipperton Island (locally known as Île Clipperton and sometimes Île de la Passion) is an uninhabited seven-square-kilometer coral atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,300 km southwest of France administered from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic; its defense is the responsibility of France. ... In international law, a condominium is a territory in which two sovereign powers have equal rights. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ...

Antarctic Ocean

• French Southern and Antarctic Lands -- 2nd & now

Territories where French colonisation was checked

These are further countries or territories where France had major economic and political interests, but was prevented from incorporating them into her colonial empire due to active British opposition.

• Egypt (Suez Canal)
• Ethiopia
• India — France once had the largest share of the India trade, but lost nearly all of it during the Seven Years' War, concurrent with losing its naval parity with the British Empire. So important was this loss felt to be that Napoleon Bonaparte mounted a daring expedition to Egypt in 1798. His aim was to either build a canal or to establish an overland route, and thus re-establish a viable route to regain these key possessions. He only managed to lose all opportunity for the plans' success at the naval Battle of the Nile, where the French fleet was trounced, shattering the remnants of French Sea Power. (See main article French India).
• northern Iraq (oil fields of Mosul and Kirkuk)
• Palestine
• Sudan
• Tangiers — Was an international protectorate, but the administration of the Tangier International Zone was attached to French Morocco.
• New Zealand — The French established a Colony at Akaroa on Banks Peninsula in the South Island, but were thwarted in plans to expand by the arrival of HMS Britomart a few days before the French warship dispatched to the area.
• Thailand — Had to surrender its hegemony over Laos and Cambodia and to grant commercial concessions to France, but remained independent due to the desire of British authorities to establish Thailand as a buffer state between French Indochina and British India.

Ships moored at El Ballah during transit The Suez Canal (Arabic: ‎, translit: ), is a large artificial maritime canal in Egypt west of the Sinai Peninsula. ... Combatants Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of Great Britain Hanover Kingdom of Ireland Portugal Brunswick Hesse-Kassel Austria France Russia Sweden Spain Saxony The Seven Years War (1754 and 1756–1763), some of the theatres of which are called the Pomeranian War and the French and Indian War (see below), was... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... Napoleon I Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Mediator of the Swiss Confederation and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants Britain France Commanders The Baron Nelson François-Paul Brueys DAigalliers† Strength 14 ships of the line (13 x 74-gun, 1 x 50-gun), 1 sloop 13 ships of the line (1 x 120-gun, 3 x 80-gun, 9 x 74gun), 4 frigates, some smaller Casualties... Naval warfare is combat in and on seas and oceans. ... French India is highlighted in light blue on the subcontinent. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Location of Kirkuk in Iraqi map Kirkuk (also spelled Karkuk or Kerkuk; Arabic: كركوك, KirkÅ«k; Kurdish: كركوك ; Syriac: ܐܪܦܗܐ, Arrapha; Turkish: Kerkük) is a city in northern Iraq. ... Map of the British Mandate of Palestine. ... Tangier (in Berber and Arabic Tanja, in Spanish Tánger and in French Tanger) is a city of northern Morocco with a population of 350,000, or 550,000 including suburbs. ... A view of the Akaroa harbour. ...

Organization of the French Empire in 1931

At the height of the second French colonial empire in 1931, the Empire was organized into the following colonies: Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ...

Africa and the Indian Ocean

• Algeria (not a colony, but three separate départements officially considered part of Metropolitan France, and one territory under military rule)
  • Alger département
  • Oran département
  • Constantine département
  • Territoires du Sud territory
• Cameroon (a League of Nations Mandate)
• French Equatorial Africa
  • Chad
  • Gabon
  • Middle Congo
  • Oubangi-Chari
• French Morocco (a protectorate)
• French Somaliland (including the Cheik-Saïd peninsula, now part of Yemen)
• French Togoland (a League of Nations Mandate)
• French West Africa
  • Dahomey (now Benin)
  • French Guinea
  • French Sudan
  • Ivory Coast
  • Mauritania
  • Niger
  • Senegal
  • Upper Volta
• Madagascar (including the Comoros, Mayotte, the Kerguelen Islands, Amsterdam Island, Saint-Paul Island, the Crozet Islands, and the Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean)
• Réunion
• Tunisia (a protectorate)

The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France and many former French colonies, roughly analogous to English counties. ... Metropolitan France (French: France métropolitaine, or just la Métropole) is the part of France in Europe, including Corsica, as opposed to the overseas departments and overseas territories, which, while integral parts of the French Republic, are regarded as Overseas France (la France doutre-mer, or more colloquially... Oran is a former French département in Algeria existing from 1848 until 1962. ... The League of Nations was an international organization founded after the Paris Peace Conference, 1919. ... Mandates in the Middle east and Africa. ... Location of French Equatorial Africa. ... The Republic of the Congo, also known as Middle Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, and Congo (but not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire, which was also at one time known as the Republic of the Congo), is a former French colony of west-central Africa. ... French Morocco (Fr. ... Anthem: Djibouti Capital Djibouti Largest city Djibouti Arabic and French Government Democracy  - President Ismail Omar Guelleh  - Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita Independence from France   - Date June 27, 1977  Area  - Total 23,200 km² (149th) 8,958 sq mi   - Water (%) 0. ... French Togoland was a France Mandate territory in West Africa, which later became the Togolese Republic. ... Location of French West Africa French West Africa (French: ) was a federation of eight French territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan (now Mali), French Guinea (now Guinea), Côte dIvoire, Niger, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and Dahomey (now Benin). ... Dahomey was a kingdom in Africa, situated in what is now the nation of Benin. ... French Guinea (in West Africa) became independent from France in 1958 (see Guinea). ... French Sudan (Fr. ... Côte dIvoire (often called Ivory Coast in English; see below about the name) is a country in West Africa. ... Map showing the Volta river in Upper Volta Upper Volta (French: ) was the name of the African country now called Burkina Faso. ... Basic data Administrative status: district Country: French Southern and Antarctic Lands Capital: Port-aux-Français Population: ca. ... ÃŽle Amsterdam IPA: (meaning Amsterdam island, after the Dutch capital) is a French island in the Indian Ocean located at . ... Map of St. ... Orthographic projection centred over the Iles Crozet The Crozet Islands (French: ÃŽles Crozet or officially Archipel Crozet) are a sub-antarctic archipelago of small islands in the southern Indian Ocean, part of the French Southern Territories. ... Location of the Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean: • 1 : Bassas da India • 2 : Europa Island • 3 : Glorioso Islands • 4 : Juan de Nova Island • 5 : Tromelin Island (KM : Comoros, MG : Madagascar, MU : Mauritius, MZ : Mozambique, RE : Réunion, YT : Mayotte) The Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (French: ÃŽles Éparses...

The Americas

• French Guiana
• Guadaloupe (including Saint Barthélemy and half of Saint Martin)
• Martinique
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean Sea, is an archipelago with a total area of 1,704 km² located in the Eastern Caribbean. ... Gustavia Harbor, St. ... St. ...

Asia

• French concessions in China: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Hankou
• French India (Pondicherry, Chandernagore, Karaikal, Mahé, Yanaon, now part of India)
• French Indochina
  • Annam (a protectorate, part of modern Vietnam)
  • Cambodia (Kampuchea)(a protectorate)
  • Cochin China (a colony, part of modern Vietnam)
  • Laos (a protectorate)
  • Tonkin (a protectorate, part of modern Vietnam)
• Kwang-Chou-Wan (a leased port in China)
• Lebanon (a League of Nations Mandate)
• Syria (a League of Nations Mandate, including the Sanjak of Alexandretta)

A concession is a territory within one country that is administered by another country. ... Shanghai (Chinese: ; pinyin:  ; Shanghainese: ), situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China, is the largest city of the Peoples Republic of China and the eighth largest in the world. ... Guangzhou is the capital and the sub-provincial city of Guangdong Province in southern mainland China. ...   (Chinese: ; pinyin: TiānjÄ«n; Postal map spelling: Tientsin) is one of the four municipalities of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Hankou (漢口; pinyin: Hànkǒu; Wade-Giles: Hankow) is one of the three towns, together with Wuchang and Hanyang, which are included in modern day Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province, in China. ... French India is highlighted in light blue on the subcontinent. ... Map of Pondicherry Region, Union Territory of Pondicherry, India Pondicherry (Tamil:புதுவை,Hindi: पॉण्डिचेरी) is a Union Territory of India. ... Chandannagar, formerly known as Chandernagore or Chandernagar, is a city in India. ... Karaikal, also Karikal, is one of the four regions of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. ... Mahé, also known as Mayyazhi, is a former French colony in India. ... Location of Yanam Yanam or Yanaon is a district of the Union territory of Pondicherry and a town in that district. ... French Indochina was a federation of protectorates in Southeast Asia, part of the French colonial empire. ... Annam, literally meaning Pacified South, is a region of central Vietnam that fell under Chinese rule in 111 BC as Annan (安南). Known locally as Trung Bá»™, meaning Central Boundary, it was formerly a kingdom the size of Sweden with its capital at Huế. It had been seized by the French... Cochin China (also known as Cochinchina or in French, Cochinchine) was the southernmost part of Vietnam beside Cambodia. ... Tonkin, also spelled Tongkin or Tongking, is the northernmost part of Vietnam, south of Chinas Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces, east of northern Laos, and west of the Gulf of Tonkin. ... Kwang-Chou-Wan (廣州灣), or Kwangchowan, was a small enclave on the south coast of China conceded by China to France as a leased territory. ... shows the Location of the Province Hatay Flag of the Republic of Hatay (1938-1939) Hatay is a province of southern Turkey, situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and Syria to the south and east. ...

The Pacific

• French Polynesia (a colony, including Clipperton Island)
• New Caledonia (a colony, including Wallis and Futuna)
• New Hebrides (held in condominium with the United Kingdom)

The New Hebrides are an island group in the South Pacific that now form the nation of Vanuatu. ...

See also

• Franco-Trarzan War of 1825
• French colonial forces
• French colonisation of the Americas
• French Equatorial Africa
• French Empire (for the European based empires)
• February 23, 2005 French law on colonialism (repealed start of 2006)
• French West Africa
• Colonial Cambodia
• La Francophonie

• Decolonisation

The Franco-Trarzan War of 1825 was a conflict between the forces of the new amir of Trarza, Muhammad al Habib, and France. ... The French Colonial Forces or Troupes Coloniales is a general designation for the military forces that garrisoned and were largely recruited from the French colonial empire from the late 17th century until 1960. ... // North America The French established colonies across the New World in the 17th century. ... Location of French Equatorial Africa. ... The term French Empire can refer to: The First French Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte (1804 - 1814 or 1815) The Second French Empire of Napoleon III (1852 - 1870) The Second French Colonial Empire (1830 - 1960) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise... The February 23, 2005 French law on colonialism was an act passed by the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) conservative majority, which imposed to high-school teachers to teach the positive values of colonialism to their students (article 4). ... Location of French West Africa French West Africa (French: ) was a federation of eight French territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan (now Mali), French Guinea (now Guinea), Côte dIvoire, Niger, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and Dahomey (now Benin). ... // French Colonial Occupation In October of 1887, the French announced the formation of the Union Indochinoise (Indochinese Union), which at that time comprised Cambodia, already an autonomous French possession, and the three regions of Vietnam (Tonkin, Annam, and Cochinchina. ... La Francophonie (formally lOrganisation internationale de la Francophonie), a French language term coined in 1880 by French geographer Onésime Reclus, brother of Elisée Reclus, to designate the community of people and countries using French, is an international organisation of and governments. ... Decolonization generally refers to a movement following the Second World War in which the various European colonies of the world were granted independence. ...

References

• Thomas Pakenham, The Scramble for Africa (1991)
• Maria Petringa, Brazza, A Life for Africa (2006)

External links

• L'Afrique francophone
• Threats to the national independence of Thailand, from Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

	French Colonial Empire [ v • d • e ]
I- Former French protectorates and colonial possessions:
Africa & Indian Ocean: Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia) | Arguin Island (off Morocco) | French West Africa (Côte d'Ivoire, Dahomey, French Sudan (Mali), Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Upper Volta) & French Togoland & James Island (The Gambia) | French Equatorial Africa (Chad, Gabon, Middle Congo, Oubangui-Chari) | French Somaliland (Djibouti) | Comoros (Anjouan- Grande Comore- Mohéli) | Madagascar | Mascarene Islands : Ile de France (Mauritus) & Seychelles
The Americas (French colonization of the Americas): New France (Acadia, Louisiana, Quebec, Terre Neuve) | Inini | Berbice | Saint-Domingue (Haiti) | Tobago | Virgin Islands (part) | France Antarctique (part of Brazil) | France Équinoxiale (part of Brazil)
Asia: Alaouites | Alexandretta-Hatay (now a province of Turkey) | Ceylon | French India (Chandannagar, Coromandel Coast | Madras | Malabar, Mahé, Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanaon) | Kwangchowan (lease in China) | French Indochina (Cambodia-Kampuchea | Laos | Vietnam: Annam, Cochinchina, Tonkin)
Oceania: New Caledonia | New Hebrides (now Vanuatu)
II- Present overseas territories and possessions:
Americas: French Guiana | Guadeloupe | Martinique | Saint-Pierre and Miquelon | Oceania: French Polynesia | New Caledonia | Wallis and Futuna | Indian Ocean: Mayotte | La Réunion (Mascarene- formerly Île Bourbon)
See also: French colonisation of the Americas | Chartered company | French East India Company

A foreign minister is a cabinet minister that helps to form foreign policy for sovereign nations. ... Image File history File links Blason_France_moderne. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... The Algerian bay (view from the west). ... Arguin is an island off the west coast of Mauritania in the Bay of Arguin, at 20° 36 N., 16° 27 W. It is 6 km long by 2 broad. ... Location of French West Africa French West Africa (French: ) was a federation of eight French territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan (now Mali), French Guinea (now Guinea), Côte dIvoire, Niger, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and Dahomey (now Benin). ... Dahomey was a kingdom in Africa, situated in what is now the nation of Benin. ... French Sudan (Fr. ... Map showing the Volta river in Upper Volta Upper Volta (French: ) was the name of the African country now called Burkina Faso. ... French Togoland was a France Mandate territory in West Africa, which later became the Togolese Republic. ... James Island is an island in the Gambia River, 30 km from the river mouth and near Juffure, The Gambia. ... Location of French Equatorial Africa. ... // First settled by Mbuti, Congo was later settled by Bantu groups that also occupied parts of present-day Angola, Gabon, and Democratic Republic of the Congo, forming the basis for ethnic affinities and rivalries among those states. ... Oubangui-Chari, or Ubangi-Shari, was a French territory in central Africa which later became the independent country of the Central African Republic on August 13, 1960. ... The Republic of Djibouti gained its independence on June 27, 1977. ... Map of Anjouan Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an island in the Comoros. ... Map of Comoros and Southern Africa Grande Comore (also known as Ngazidja and Ngasidja, and erroneously as Njazidja) is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. ... Map of Mohéli Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. ... Motto: Stella Clavisque Maris Indici  (Latin) Star and Key of the Indian Ocean Anthem: Motherland Capital (and largest city) Port Louis English Government Republic  - President Anerood Jugnauth  - Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam Independence from the United Kingdom   - Date March 12, 1968   - Republic March 12, 1992  Area  - Total 2,040 km² (179th... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... New France (French: ) describes the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River, by Jacques Cartier in 1534, to the cession of New France to the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1763. ... The national flag of Acadia, adopted in 1884. ... Louisiana (French: La Louisiane) was the name of an administrative district of New France. ... Quebec has played a special role in Canada, and its history has taken a somewhat different path to the rest of Canada. ... Newfoundland —   (stress on final syllable; for mispronunciations, see Newfoundland travel guide from Wikitravel)— (French: , Irish: ) is a large island off the east coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... Inini (1941 pop. ... Berbice is the Second largest of the three counties in Guyana and is known as the ancient county. ... Saint-Domingue was a French colony from 1697 to 1804 that is today the independent nation of Haiti. ... Castara village beach looking south, Tobago Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. ... France Antarctique was the name of the failed French colony south of the Equator, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which existed between 1555 and 1567. ... Equinoxial France was the contemporary name given to the colonization efforts of France in the 17th century in South America, around the line of Equator, before tropical had fully gained its modern meaning: Equinoctial means in Latin of equal nights, i. ... Alaouites, or the Alawite State, was a French mandate in the coastal area of present-day Syria after World War I. It was renamed Latakia in 1930 and became part of Syria in 1937. ... shows the Location of the Province Hatay Flag of the Republic of Hatay (1938-1939) Hatay is a province of southern Turkey, situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and Syria to the south and east. ... French India is highlighted in light blue on the subcontinent. ... Chandannagore Strand: A unique place along the bank of Ganga Chandannagar, formerly known as Chandernagore or Chandernagar (French: Chandernagor), is a small city located 30 kilometers north of Kolkata, in West Bengal, India. ... The Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian peninsula. ... The Kapaleeshwarar temple in Mylapore was built by the Pallava kings in the 7th century Chennai (ெசன்னை in Tamil), formerly known as Madras, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is Indias fourth largest city. ... Bekal Fort Beach, Kerala Malabar (Malayalam: മലബാര്‍ ) is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, and comprising the northern half of the state of Kerala. ... Mahé, also known as Mayyazhi, is a former French colony in India. ... Map of Puducherry Region, Union Territory of Puducherry, India Puducherry (Tamil: புதுச்சேரி / புதுவை)   (formerly Pondicherry) is a Union Territory of India. ... Karaikal, also Karikal, is one of the four regions of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. ... Location of Yanam Yanam or Yanaon is a district of the Union territory of Pondicherry and a town in that district. ... Kwang-Chou-Wan (廣州灣), or Kwangchowan, was a small enclave on the south coast of China conceded by China to France as a leased territory. ... French Indochina was a federation of protectorates in Southeast Asia, part of the French colonial empire. ... // French Colonial Occupation In October of 1887, the French announced the formation of the Union Indochinoise (Indochinese Union), which at that time comprised Cambodia, already an autonomous French possession, and the three regions of Vietnam (Tonkin, Annam, and Cochinchina. ... Annam, literally meaning Pacified South, is a region of central Vietnam that fell under Chinese rule in 111 BC as Annan (安南). Known locally as Trung Bá»™, meaning Central Boundary, it was formerly a kingdom the size of Sweden with its capital at Huế. It had been seized by the French... Cochin China (also known as Cochinchina or in French, Cochinchine) was the southernmost part of Vietnam beside Cambodia. ... Tonkin, also spelled Tongkin or Tongking, is the northernmost part of Vietnam, south of Chinas Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces, east of northern Laos, and west of the Gulf of Tonkin. ... The New Hebrides are an island group in the South Pacific that now form the nation of Vanuatu. ... Motto: A Mare Labor(Latin) From the Sea, Work[citation needed] Anthem: La Marseillaise Capital (and largest city) Saint-Pierre French Government  - President of the General Council Stéphane Artano  - Préfet (Prefect) Yves Fauqueur Collectivité doutre-mera of France   - ceded by the UKe 30 May 1814   - Territoire d... // North America The French established colonies across the New World in the 17th century. ... The arms of the British South Africa Company A chartered company is an association formed by investors or shareholders for the purpose of trade, exploration and colonisation. ... French and other European settlements in India. ...

Colonialism
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