Armies and Wars of the French East India Companies 1664-1770: European, Asian and African Soldiers in India, Africa, the Far East and Louisiana (Chartrand Ren)(Paperback)

From the early seventeenth century a multitude of French East or West India companies holding overseas trade monopolies and privileges were active in various parts of the world, especially in Africa and Asia. From 1719, they were united into a single vast Compagnie des Indes (Company of the Indies) known to the anglophone world as the French East India Company, It was far more than that, for its trade privileges also covered Africa, other places in Asia from Arabia to China, and North America.

Besides a multitude of usually modestly fortified trade lodges and factories, these companies were the actual government representing the Kingdom of France over substantial parts of Africa, India and the Indian Ocean islands as well as Louisiana in America from 1716 to 1731. The profits were expected to cover government operations. The companies had the power 'to make war' where they
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