French East India Company, History, Establishment, Decline and Danish East India Company

French East India Company

Read all about French East India Company. The 17th century saw France participate in the East India trade as the last of the major European naval powers. Sixty years after the founding of the English and Dutch East India companies (in 1600 and 1602, respectively), and at a time when both businesses were expanding their factories (trading posts) on the beaches of India, the French had no viable trading firm or permanent station in the East.

During the first half of the 16th century, under the rule of King Francis I, the first French commercial expedition to India is believed to have taken place. You will learn about The French (1664–1760) in this article, which will help you with your preparation for the UPSC Civil Service Exam.

Read about: Advent of Europeans

French Rise in India

Since the beginning of the 16th century, the French have wanted to trade with the East Indies; nevertheless, their arrival at the Indian ports has been delayed. In reality, the French were the last Europeans to enter India for trade. Colbert, the king’s renowned minister, laid the foundation for the Compagnie des Indes Orientales (French East India Company), which was founded in 1664 and in which the king also had an interest.

The French East India Company received a 50-year monopoly on French trade in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The corporation was also given a perpetual concession by the French king over the island of Madagascar and any other nations it might conquer.

The Company spent a lot of time and resources trying to revive the Madagascar colonies, but the effort were unsuccessful. Francois Caron then led an expedition to India in 1667, where he founded a factory in Surat. Another French workshop was created in Masulipatnam in 1669 by the Persian Caron, who had followed Caron, after obtaining a patent from the Sultan of Golconda. In 1673, the French were given permission to establish a colony at Chandernagore near Calcutta by Shaista Khan, the Mughal subahdar of Bengal.

Read about: Portuguese in India

French East India Company History

On September 1, 1664, the French East India Company was founded as a colonial business enterprise to compete with the English (later British) and Dutch trading companies in the East Indies. It would not be any easier to find the company’s interest in the Mughal Empire. Emperor Aurangzeb granted the French a royal mandate on September 4, 1666, allowing them to conduct business through the port of Surat.

The French had switched their attention to Pondicherry by 1683, but the relocation had no effect on the Company’s ongoing financial difficulties. The French sought to interfere in Indian politics when the Mughal Empire fell in order to protect their interests, most notably by creating alliances with regional monarchs in south India.

The French position in India suffered as a result of the Dutch and French starting a war. Due to their support of the English following the Revolution of 1688, the Dutch conquered Pondicherry in 1693. Despite the fact that Pondicherry was handed to the French by the Treaty of Ryswick, which was signed in September 1697, the Dutch garrison retained control of it for an additional two years.

Under the skillful direction of Francois Martin, Pondicherry blossomed once more and expanded to become the most major French outpost in India. The French company’s fortunes in India continued to decline as the War of Spanish Succession broke out in Europe. They had to shut down their operations in Surat, Masulipatnam, and Bantam as a result in the early 18th century.

The French in India experienced another loss with the passing of Francois Martin on December 31, 1706. The main enemy of France was the British. The British took over the French possessions in India as a result of ongoing conflicts in Europe, particularly the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years’ War. The Treaty of Paris, which was signed in 1763, gave the territory back to France. A seven-year monopoly on all trade with nations outside of the Cape of Good Hope was granted to it.

The agreement did not, however, account for the French Revolution, and on April 3, 1790, the lucrative Far Eastern commerce was “thrown open to all Frenchmen,” according to a law passed by the new French Assembly. The Company was unable to maintain a profitable business. The company underwent a reorganisation in 1785, and 40,000 shares of equity were issued at a cost of 1,000 livres apiece. Unaccustomed to rivalry or official disfavour, the company progressively collapsed and was eventually disbanded in 1794.

Read about: Dutch East India Company

French East India Company Decline

The French East India trade became accessible to individuals after 1789. In a sense, the French were the ones who first employed the tactic of meddling in the domestic affairs of the Indian republics in order to gain political advantage, and they also paved the way for the British. The British were successful in their tactics whereas the French failed in their attempt.

In addition to the Portuguese, Dutch, British, and French, the Danes also arrived in India as traders in 1616. In 1620, they bought Tranquabar port from the Nayaks of Tanjore and erected a fort there. Despite opening facilities at Masulipatnam, Port Novo, and Serampur, their success in the trade industry was fleeting due to their limited supply of supplies. Finally, in 1845, they handed the British their factories and fled India.

French East India Company UPSC

The English East India Company’s European rivalry in India was put an end to with the victory at Wandiwash. They were therefore ready to take over the entire nation. Native Americans participated in the Battle of Wandiwash as sepoys on both sides. It makes one think that the collapse of India to European invaders was inevitable, irrespective of who won. For UPSC Exam Preparation, read the entire article about the French East India Company.

Danish East India Company

Through the Danish East India Company, which was founded in 1616, the Danes made their foray into India. In 1620, they established a factory in Tranquebar, close to Tanjore (on the east coast). Their main location was at Serampore, which is close to Calcutta.

Danish missionary work was more well-known than their business endeavours. The Danish factories were subsequently sold to the British government in 1845 because they were not very significant at the time.

Danish East India Company and Danish Chartered Companies

There were two companies with Danish charters. Danish East India Company, the first business, ran between 1616 and 1650. Swedish and Danish East India Companies imported more tea than the British East India Company, and the majority of it was smuggled into England where it was sold at a high profit.

There were two companies with Danish charters. Danish East India Company, the first business, ran between 1616 and 1650. Swedish and Danish East India Companies imported more tea than the British East India Company, and the majority of it was smuggled into England where it was sold at a high profit.

Danish East India Company Decline

The British invaded Danish shipping during the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815 AD), decimated the Danish East India Company’s Indian trade, and eventually acquired Danish territories, incorporating them into British India. After Serampore, Denmark relinquished its final colony to Britain in 1845 AD.

Sharing is caring!