French India: Difference between revisions

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| conventional_long_name = French Settlements in India
| conventional_long_name = French Settlements in India
| common_name            = French India
| common_name            = French India
| image_flag            = Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg
| image_flag            = Royal Standard of the King of France.svg
| image_coat            = Great Seal of France.svg
| image_flag2            = Flag of France (1794–1815).svg
| empire                = France
| empire                = France
| status                = Colony
| status                = Colony
| era                    = Imperialism
| era                    =  
| year_start            = 1664
| year_start            = 1664
| year_end              = 1954
| year_end              = 1954
Line 28: Line 28:
| capital                = [[Pondicherry|Pondichéry]]
| capital                = [[Pondicherry|Pondichéry]]
| common_languages      = [[Indian French|French]] ''(de jure)''<ref>Not as widespread; regional and local as well as English</ref><br />[[Tamil language|Tamil]]<br />[[Telugu language|Telugu]]<br />[[Malayalam]]<br />[[Bengali language|Bengali]]<br />[[Indian English|English]]
| common_languages      = [[Indian French|French]] ''(de jure)''<ref>Not as widespread; regional and local as well as English</ref><br />[[Tamil language|Tamil]]<br />[[Telugu language|Telugu]]<br />[[Malayalam]]<br />[[Bengali language|Bengali]]<br />[[Indian English|English]]
| title_leader          = Head of state
| title_leader          =  
| leader1                = King [[Louis XIV of France]]
| leader1                =  
| year_leader1          = 1664–1715
| year_leader1          =
| leader2                = President [[René Coty]]
| leader2                =  
| year_leader2          = 1954
| year_leader2          =
| title_representative  = Governor
| title_representative  = Governor
| representative1        = [[François Caron]] {{small|(first)}} <ref>as Commissioner</ref>
| representative1        = [[François Caron]] {{small|(first)}} <ref>as Commissioner</ref>
| year_representative1  = 1668–1673
| year_representative1  = 1668–1673
| representative2        = Georges Escaragueil <ref>as High Commissioner</ref>
| representative2        = Georges Escaragueil<ref>as High Commissioner</ref>
| year_representative2  = 1954
| year_representative2  = 1954
| title_deputy          =  
| title_deputy          =  
Line 43: Line 43:
| deputy2                = Georges Escargueil {{small|(last)}}
| deputy2                = Georges Escargueil {{small|(last)}}
| year_deputy2          = 1954
| year_deputy2          = 1954
| stat_year1            = 1948
| stat_area1            = 508.03
| stat_year2            = 1929
| stat_pop2              = 288,546
| stat_year3            = 1948
| stat_pop3              = 332,045
| currency              = [[Roupie|French Indian Rupee]]
| currency              = [[Roupie|French Indian Rupee]]
| today                  = {{flag|India}}
| today                  = [[India]]
| demonym                =  
| demonym                =  
| stat_year1            =
| stat_area1            =
| stat_pop1              =
| stat_year2            = 1936
| stat_area2            = 510
| stat_pop2              = 298,861
| area_km2              =  
| area_km2              =  
| area_rank              =  
| area_rank              =  
Line 58: Line 58:
| HDI                    =  
| HDI                    =  
| HDI_year              =  
| HDI_year              =  
|status_text=Colony of France (1664–1946)<br />[[Overseas territory (France)|Overseas Territory of France]](1946–1954)|legislature=[[Representative Assembly of French India]]|government_type=Colonial Administration}}
| status_text           = Colony of France (1664–1946)<br />[[Overseas territory (France)|Overseas Territory of France]] (1946–1954)
| legislature           = [[Representative Assembly of French India]]
| government_type       = Colonial administration
}}
{{Colonial India}}
{{Colonial India}}


'''French India''', formally the '''{{lang|fr|Établissements français dans l'Inde}}'''{{efn|In France it was popularly known as {{lang|fr|les Comptoirs de l'Inde}}. Strictly speaking though, a {{lang|fr|comptoir}} is a trading station, whereas the five French settlements were entire towns with the surrounding area, and not mere trading stations.}} ({{lang-en|French Settlements in India}}), was a [[Overseas territory (France)|French colony]] comprising five geographically separated enclaves on the [[Indian Subcontinent]] that had initially been [[Factory (trading post)|factories]] of the [[French East India Company]]. They were ''de facto'' incorporated into the [[India|Republic of India]] in 1950 and 1954. The enclaves were {{lang|fr|[[Pondicherry|Pondichéry]]|italic=no}}, [[Karaikal|Karikal]], [[Yanam|Yanaon]] ([[Andhra Pradesh]]) on the [[Coromandel Coast]], [[Mahé, India|Mahé]] on the [[Malabar Coast]] and [[Chandannagar|Chandernagor]] in [[Bengal]]. The French also possessed several {{lang|fr|loges}} ('lodges', tiny subsidiary trading stations) inside other towns, but after 1816, the British denied all French claims to these, which were not reoccupied.
'''French India''', formally the '''{{lang|fr|Établissements français dans l'Inde}}'''{{efn|In France, it was popularly known as {{lang|fr|les Comptoirs de l'Inde}}. Strictly speaking though, a {{lang|fr|comptoir}} is a trading station, whereas the five French settlements were entire towns with the surrounding area, and not mere trading stations.}} ({{lang-en|French Settlements in India}}), was a [[Overseas territory (France)|French colony]] comprising five geographically separated enclaves on the [[Indian Subcontinent]] that had initially been [[Factory (trading post)|factories]] of the [[French East India Company]]. They were ''de facto'' incorporated into the [[India|Republic of India]] in 1950 and 1954. The enclaves were {{lang|fr|[[Pondicherry|Pondichéry]]|italic=no}}, [[Karaikal|Karikal]], [[Yanam]] ([[Andhra Pradesh]]) on the [[Coromandel Coast]], [[Mahé, India|Mahé]] on the [[Malabar Coast]] and [[Chandannagar|Chandernagor]] in [[Bengal]]. The French also possessed several {{lang|fr|loges}} ('lodges', tiny subsidiary trading stations) inside other towns, but after 1816, the British denied all French claims to these, which were not reoccupied.


By 1950, the total area measured {{convert|510|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|293|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} belonged to the territory of {{lang|fr|[[Puducherry (union territory)|Pondichéry]]|italic=no}}. In 1936, the population of the colony totalled 298,851 inhabitants, of which 63% (187,870) lived in the territory of Pondichéry.<ref>Jacques Weber, ''Pondichéry et les comptoirs de l'Inde après Dupleix'', Éditions Denoël, Paris, 1996, p. 347.</ref>
By 1950, the total area measured {{convert|510|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|293|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} belonged to the territory of {{lang|fr|[[Puducherry (union territory)|Pondichéry]]|italic=no}}. In 1936, the population of the colony totalled 298,851 inhabitants, of which 63% (187,870) lived in the territory of Pondichéry.<ref>Jacques Weber, ''Pondichéry et les comptoirs de l'Inde après Dupleix'', Éditions Denoël, Paris, 1996, p. 347.</ref>


== History ==
== Background ==
{{See also|Franco-Indian alliances|Colonial History of Yanam|History of Puducherry}}
{{See also|Franco-Indian alliances|Colonial History of Yanam|History of Puducherry}}
[[File:1751 map of India from "Historical Atlas of India", by Charles Joppen.jpg|thumb|India at the height of French Influence (1751)]]
[[File:1751 map of India from "Historical Atlas of India", by Charles Joppen.jpg|thumb|India at the height of French influence (1751)]]
[[File:Ananda Ranga Pillai.JPG|thumb|A portrait of [[Ananda Ranga Pillai]]]]
[[File:Ananda Ranga Pillai.JPG|thumb|A portrait of [[Ananda Ranga Pillai]]]]
[[File:Yanaon.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Colonial [[Yanaon]]]]
[[File:Yanaon.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Colonial [[Yanaon]]]]
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France was the last of the major European maritime powers of the 17th century to enter the East India trade. Six decades after the foundation of the [[East India Company|English]] and [[Dutch East India Company|Dutch East India]] companies (in 1600 and 1602 respectively), and at a time when both companies were multiplying [[Factory (trading post)|factories]] (trading posts) on the shores of India, the French still did not have a viable trading company or a single permanent establishment in the East.
France was the last of the major European maritime powers of the 17th century to enter the East India trade. Six decades after the foundation of the [[East India Company|English]] and [[Dutch East India Company|Dutch East India]] companies (in 1600 and 1602 respectively), and at a time when both companies were multiplying [[Factory (trading post)|factories]] (trading posts) on the shores of India, the French still did not have a viable trading company or a single permanent establishment in the East.


Historians have sought to explain France's late entrance in the East India trade. They cite geopolitical circumstances such as the inland position of the French capital, France's numerous internal customs barriers and parochial perspectives of merchants on France's Atlantic coast, who had little appetite for the large-scale investment required to develop a viable trading enterprise with the distant East Indies.<ref>Holden Furber, ''Rival Empires of Trade in the Orient, 1600–1800'', University of Minnesota Press, 1976, p. 201.</ref><ref>Philippe Haudrère, ''Les Compagnies des Indes Orientales'', Paris, 2006, p 70.</ref>
Seeking to explain France's late entrance in the East India trade, historians cite geopolitical circumstances such as the inland position of the French capital, France's numerous internal customs barriers, and parochial perspectives of merchants on France's Atlantic coast, who had little appetite for the large-scale investment required to develop a viable trading enterprise with the distant East Indies.<ref>Holden Furber, ''Rival Empires of Trade in the Orient, 1600–1800'', University of Minnesota Press, 1976, p. 201.</ref><ref>Philippe Haudrère, ''Les Compagnies des Indes Orientales'', Paris, 2006, p 70.</ref>
 
== History ==
=== Initial marine voyages to India (16th century) ===
The first French commercial venture to India is believed to have taken place in the first half of the 16th century, in the reign of [[Francis I of France|King Francis I]], when two ships were fitted out by some merchants of [[Rouen]] to trade in eastern seas; they sailed from [[Le Havre]] and were never heard of again. In 1604, a company was granted letters patent by [[Henry IV of France|King Henry IV]], but the project failed. Fresh letters patent were issued in 1615, and two ships went to India, only one returning.<ref name=EB1911/>


The first French commercial venture to India is believed to have taken place in the first half of the 16th century, in the reign of [[Francis I of France|King Francis I]], when two ships were fitted out by some merchants of [[Rouen]] to trade in eastern seas; they sailed from [[Le Havre]] and were never heard of again. In 1604 a company was granted letters patent by [[Henry IV of France|King Henry IV]], but the project failed. Fresh letters patent were issued in 1615, and two ships went to India, only one returning.<ref name=EB1911/>
''La Compagnie française des Indes orientales'' ([[French East India Company]]) was formed under the auspices of [[Cardinal Richelieu]] (1642) and reconstructed under [[Jean-Baptiste Colbert]] (1664), sending an expedition to [[Madagascar]].<ref name=r1/><ref name=r2/><ref name=EB1911/>


''La Compagnie française des Indes orientales'' ([[French East India Company]]) was formed under the auspices of [[Cardinal Richelieu]] (1642) and reconstructed under [[Jean-Baptiste Colbert]] (1664), sending an expedition to [[Madagascar]]. In 1667 the French India Company sent out another expedition, under the command of [[François Caron]] (who was accompanied by a [[Persian people|Persian]] named Marcara), which reached [[Surat]] in 1668 and established the first French factory in India.<ref>{{citation | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qBZg0OhbiXMC&pg=PA747 | title = Asia in the making of Europe | page = 747}}.</ref><ref>{{citation | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-08AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA66 | title = The Cambridge history of the British Empire | page = 66}}.</ref>
=== First factory in India (1668) ===
In 1667, the French India Company sent out another expedition, under the command of [[François Caron]] (who was accompanied by a [[Persian people|Persian]] named Marcara), which reached [[Surat]] in 1668 and established the first French factory in India.<ref name=r1>{{citation | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qBZg0OhbiXMC&pg=PA747 | title = Asia in the making of Europe | page = 747| isbn = 9780226467672 | last1 = Lach | first1 = Donald Frederick | year = 1998 }}.</ref><ref name=r2>{{citation | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Y-08AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA66 | title = The Cambridge history of the British Empire | year = 1940 | page = 66}}.</ref>


In 1669, Marcara succeeded in establishing another French factory at [[Masulipatam]]. In 1672, Fort Saint Thomas was taken but the French were driven out by the [[Dutch Republic|Dutch]]. [[Chandernagore]] (present-day Chandannagar) was established in 1692, with the permission of [[Nawab]] Shaista Khan, the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] governor of [[Bengal]]. In 1673, the French acquired the area of Pondicherry from the [[qiladar]] of Valikondapuram under the Sultan of [[Bijapur Sultanate|Bijapur]], and thus the foundation of [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondichéry]] was laid. By 1720, the French had lost their factories at [[Surat]], [[Masulipatam]] and [[Bantam (city)|Bantam]] to the British [[East India Company]].
=== French expansion in India (1669-1672) ===
In 1669, Marcara succeeded in establishing another French factory at [[Masulipatam]]. In 1672, the French captured Fort Saint Thomas, but they were driven out by the [[Dutch Republic|Dutch]] after a long and costly siege. [[Chandernagore]] (present-day Chandannagar) was established in 1692, with the permission of [[Nawab]] Shaista Khan, the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] governor of [[Bengal]]. In 1673, the French acquired the area of Pondicherry from the [[qiladar]] of Valikondapuram under the Sultan of [[Bijapur Sultanate|Bijapur]], and thus the foundation of [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondichéry]] was laid. By 1720, the French had lost their factories at Surat, Masulipatam and [[Bantam (city)|Bantam]] to the British [[East India Company]].


On 4 February 1673, Bellanger de l'Espinay, a French officer, took up residence in the Danish Lodge in Pondichéry, thereby commencing the French administration of Pondichéry. In 1674 [[François Martin (Pondicherry)|François Martin]], the first Governor, initiated ambitious projects to transform Pondichéry from a small fishing village into a flourishing port-town. The French, though, found themselves in continual conflict with the Dutch and the English. The case of France was upheld for many years at the court of the [[Qutb Shahi dynasty|Sultan of Golconda]], [[Abul Hasan Qutb Shah|Qutb Shah]], by a French Huguenot physician named Antoine d'Estremau. In 1693 the Dutch captured Pondichéry and augmented the fortifications. The French regained the town in 1699 through the [[Treaty of Ryswick]], signed on 20 September 1697.
=== Establishment of colony at Pondichéry (1673) ===
On 4 February 1673, Bellanger de l'Espinay, a French officer, took up residence in the Danish Lodge in Pondichéry, thereby commencing the French administration of Pondichéry. In 1674, [[François Martin (Pondicherry)|François Martin]], the first Governor, initiated ambitious projects to transform Pondichéry from a small fishing village into a flourishing port-town. However, the French found themselves in continual conflict with the Dutch and the English. In 1693, the Dutch captured Pondichéry and augmented the fortifications. The French regained the town in 1699 through the [[Treaty of Ryswick]], signed on 20 September 1697.


=== Establishment of colonies at Yanon (1723) and Karaikal (1739) ===
From their arrival until 1741, the objectives of the French, like those of the British, were purely commercial. During this period, the French East India Company peacefully acquired [[Yanaon (Inde française)|Yanam]] (about {{convert|840|km|mi|disp=or}} north-east of Pondichéry on Andhra Coast) in 1723, [[Mahé, India|Mahe]] on Malabar Coast in 1725 and [[Karaikal]] (about {{convert|150|km|mi|disp=or}} south of Pondichéry) in 1739. In the early 18th century, the town of Pondichéry was laid out on a grid pattern and grew considerably. Able governors like [[Pierre Christophe Le Noir]] (1726–1735) and [[Pierre Benoît Dumas]] (1735–1741) expanded the Pondichéry area and made it a large and rich town.
From their arrival until 1741, the objectives of the French, like those of the British, were purely commercial. During this period, the French East India Company peacefully acquired [[Yanaon (Inde française)|Yanam]] (about {{convert|840|km|mi|disp=or}} north-east of Pondichéry on Andhra Coast) in 1723, [[Mahé, India|Mahe]] on Malabar Coast in 1725 and [[Karaikal]] (about {{convert|150|km|mi|disp=or}} south of Pondichéry) in 1739. In the early 18th century, the town of Pondichéry was laid out on a grid pattern and grew considerably. Able governors like [[Pierre Christophe Le Noir]] (1726–1735) and [[Pierre Benoît Dumas]] (1735–1741) expanded the Pondichéry area and made it a large and rich town.


Soon after his arrival in 1741, the most famous governor of French India, [[Joseph François Dupleix]], began to cherish the ambition of a French territorial empire in India in spite of the pronounced uninterested attitude of his distant superiors and of the French government, which didn't want to provoke the British. Dupleix's ambition clashed with British interests in India and a period of military skirmishes and political intrigues began and continued even in rare periods when France and Great Britain were officially at peace. Under the command of the [[Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau]], Dupleix's army successfully controlled the area between [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] and [[Cape Comorin]]. But then [[Robert Clive]] arrived in India in 1744, a British officer who dashed the hopes of Dupleix to create a French empire in India.
=== Ambition of establishment of French territorial empire in India and defeat (1741-1754) ===
Soon after his arrival in 1741, the most famous governor of French India, [[Joseph François Dupleix]], began to cherish the ambition of a French territorial empire in India in spite of the pronounced uninterested attitude of his distant superiors and of the French government, which didn't want to provoke the British. Dupleix's ambition clashed with British interests in India and a period of military skirmishes and political intrigues began and continued even in rare periods when France and Great Britain were officially at peace. Under the command of the [[Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau]], Dupleix's army successfully controlled the area between [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] and [[Cape Comorin]]. However, [[Robert Clive]], a British officer, arrived in India in 1744, and dashed the hopes of Dupleix to create a French empire in India.  


After a defeat and failed peace talks, Dupleix was summarily dismissed and recalled to France in 1754.
After a defeat and failed peace talks, Dupleix was summarily dismissed and recalled to France in 1754.


=== French vs British intrigues (1754-1871) ===
In spite of a treaty between the British and French agreeing not to interfere in regional Indian affairs, their colonial intrigues continued. The French expanded their influence at the court of the [[Nawab of Bengal]] and increased their trading activity in Bengal. In 1756, the French encouraged the Nawab ([[Siraj ud-Daulah]]) to attack and take the British [[Fort William (India)|Fort William]] in [[Calcutta]]. This led to the [[Battle of Plassey]] in 1757, where the British decisively defeated the Nawab and his French allies, resulting in the extension of British power over the entire province of Bengal.
In spite of a treaty between the British and French agreeing not to interfere in regional Indian affairs, their colonial intrigues continued. The French expanded their influence at the court of the [[Nawab of Bengal]] and increased their trading activity in Bengal. In 1756, the French encouraged the Nawab ([[Siraj ud-Daulah]]) to attack and take the British [[Fort William (India)|Fort William]] in [[Calcutta]]. This led to the [[Battle of Plassey]] in 1757, where the British decisively defeated the Nawab and his French allies, resulting in the extension of British power over the entire province of Bengal.


Subsequently, France sent [[Thomas Arthur, comte de Lally|Lally-Tollendal]] to recover the lost French possessions and drive the British out of India. Lally arrived in Pondichéry in 1758, had some initial success and razed Fort St. David in [[Cuddalore]] District to the ground in 1758, but strategic mistakes by Lally led to the loss of the [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] region, the [[Battle of Wandiwash]], and the [[siege of Pondicherry (1760)|siege of Pondicherry]] in 1760. In 1761, the British razed Pondichéry to the ground in revenge for the French depredations; it lay in ruins for four years. The French had lost their hold now in South India too.
Subsequently, France sent [[Thomas Arthur, comte de Lally|Lally-Tollendal]] to recover the lost French possessions and drive the British out of India. Lally arrived in Pondichéry in 1758, had some initial success and razed Fort St. David in [[Cuddalore]] District to the ground in 1758, but strategic mistakes by Lally led to the loss of the [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] region, the [[Battle of Wandiwash]] and the [[siege of Pondicherry (1760)|siege of Pondicherry]] in 1760. In 1761, the British razed Pondichéry to the ground in revenge for the French depredations; it lay in ruins for four years. The French had lost their hold now in South India too.


In 1765 Pondichéry was returned to France in accordance with [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|a 1763 peace treaty]] with [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Britain]]. Governor [[Jean Law de Lauriston]] set to rebuild the town on its former layout and after five months 200 European and 2000 [[Tamil people|Tamil]] houses had been erected. In 1769 the French East India Company, unable to support itself financially, was abolished by the French Crown, which assumed administration of the French possessions in India. During the next 50 years, Pondichéry changed hands between France and Britain with the regularity of their wars and peace treaties.
In 1765, Pondichéry was returned to France in accordance with [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|a 1763 peace treaty]] with [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Britain]]. Governor [[Jean Law de Lauriston]] set to rebuild the town on its former layout and after five months 200 European and 2000 [[Tamil people|Tamil]] houses had been erected. In 1769, the French East India Company, unable to support itself financially, was abolished by the French Crown, which assumed administration of the French possessions in India. During the next 50 years, Pondichéry changed hands between France and Britain with the regularity of their wars and peace treaties.


In 1816, after the conclusion of the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the five establishments of Pondichéry, [[Chandernagore]], Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam and the lodges at [[Machilipatnam]], Kozhikode and Surat were returned to France. Pondichéry had lost much of its former glory, and Chandernagore dwindled into an insignificant outpost to the north of the rapidly growing British metropolis of Calcutta. Successive governors tried, with mixed results, to improve infrastructure, industry, law and education over the next 138 years.
In 1816, after the conclusion of the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the five establishments of Pondichéry, [[Chandernagore]], Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam and the lodges at [[Machilipatnam]], [[Kozhikode]] and Surat were returned to France. Pondichéry had lost much of its former glory, and Chandernagore dwindled into an insignificant outpost to the north of the rapidly growing British metropolis of Calcutta. Successive governors tried, with mixed results, to improve infrastructure, industry, law and education over the next 138 years.


By a decree of 25 January 1871, French India was to have an elective general council (''conseil général'') and elective local councils (''conseil local''). The results of this measure were not very satisfactory, and the qualifications for and the classes of the franchise were modified. The governor resided at Pondichéry and was assisted by a council. There were two ''[[Tribunal d'instance|Tribunaux d'instance]]'' (Tribunals of first instance) (at Pondichéry and Karikal) one ''Cour d'appel'' ([[Court of Appeal (France)|Court of Appeal]]) (at Pondichéry) and five ''Justices de paix'' ([[Justice of the Peace|Justices of the Peace]]). Agricultural production consisted of rice, peanuts, tobacco, betel nuts and vegetables.<ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911|wstitle=India, French|inline=1}}</ref>
By a decree of 25 January 1871, French India was to have an elective general council (''conseil général'') and elective local councils (''conseil local''). The results of this measure were not very satisfactory, and the qualifications for and the classes of the franchise were modified. The governor resided at Pondichéry and was assisted by a council. There were two ''[[Tribunal d'instance|Tribunaux d'instance]]'' (Tribunals of first instance) (at Pondichéry and Karikal) one ''Cour d'appel'' ([[Court of Appeal (France)|Court of Appeal]]) (at Pondichéry) and five ''Juges de paix'' ([[Justice of the Peace|Justices of the Peace]]). Agricultural production consisted of rice, peanuts, tobacco, betel nuts and vegetables.<ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911|wstitle=India, French|volume=14|page=421|inline=1}}</ref>


The [[Indian Independence Act 1947|Independence of India]] on 15 August 1947 gave impetus to the union of France's Indian possessions with former [[British India]]. The lodges in [[Machilipatnam]], [[Kozhikode]] and [[Surat]] were ceded to India in October 1947. An agreement between France and India in 1948 agreed to an election in France's remaining Indian possessions to choose their political future. Governance of Chandernagore was ceded to India on 2 May 1950, then it was merged with [[West Bengal]] state on 2 October 1954. On 1 November 1954, the four enclaves of Pondichéry, Yanam, Mahe, and Karikal were ''de facto'' transferred to the Indian Union and became the [[Union Territory]] of [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]. The ''de jure'' union of French India with India did not take place until 1962 when the [[Parliament of France|French Parliament]] in [[Paris]] ratified the treaty with India.
{{Location map+|India|width=500|float=right
 
== List of French establishments in India ==
{{Further|Municipal administration in French India}}
{{Location map+|India|width=300|float=right
  |alt=French India
  |alt=French India
  |caption=<center>French establishments and loges as of 1947<br />{{legend inline|green|[[Bengal]]}} {{legend inline|blue|[[Coromandel coast]]}} {{legend inline|gold|[[Gujarat]]}} {{legend inline|red|[[Malabar coast]]}} {{legend inline|black|[[Orissa Province|Orissa]]}}</center>
  |caption={{center|French establishments and loges as of 1947<br />{{legend inline|green|[[Bengal]]}} {{legend inline|blue|[[Coromandel coast]]}} {{legend inline|gold|[[Gujarat]]}} {{legend inline|red|[[Malabar coast]]}} {{legend inline|black|[[Orissa Province|Orissa]]}}}}
  |places=
  |places=
   {{Location map~|India|lat_deg=11.911082|lon_deg=79.812533|position=right|mark=Blue_pog.svg|marksize=12|label='''Pondichéry'''}}
   {{Location map~|India|lat_deg=11.911082|lon_deg=79.812533|position=right|mark=Blue_pog.svg|marksize=12|label='''Pondichéry'''}}
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}}
}}


The French establishments of India are all located in the [[Indian peninsula]]. These establishments are<ref>Chapitre II, Notices statistiques sur les colonies françaises, 1839.</ref>
=== Independence movement (18th-20th century) and merger with India (1954) ===
The [[Indian Independence Act 1947|Independence of India]] on 15 August 1947 gave impetus to the union of France's Indian possessions with former [[British India]]. The lodges in Machilipatnam, Kozhikode and Surat were ceded to India on 6 October 1947.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://francearchives.fr/fr/facomponent/22ad424ec7e764c64c8c31d37bad6e938f57be05 |title=Accord par échange de lettres relatif à la date de la cession des anciennes loges françaises de l'Inde au gouvernement de l'Inde |publisher=Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères |year=1947 |location=Paris |pages=5 |language=French |trans-title=Agreement by exchange of letters relating to the date of the cession of the former French lodges of India to the Government of India |quote="the Government of India note and accept with pleasure the decision of the Government of France that October 6th will be the day from which the historic rights which France has exercised in the areas known as the French Loges in India will be renounced." |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref> An agreement between France and India in 1948 agreed to an election in France's remaining Indian possessions to choose their political future. Governance of Chandernagore was ceded to India on 2 May 1950; it was then merged with [[West Bengal]] state on 2 October 1954. On 1 November 1954, the four enclaves of Pondichéry, Yanam, Mahe, and Karikal were ''de facto'' transferred to the Indian Union and became the [[Union Territory]] of [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]. The ''de jure'' union of French India with India did not take place until 1962 when the [[Parliament of France|French Parliament]] in [[Paris]] ratified the treaty with India.
 
== List of French establishments in India ==
{{Further|Municipal administration in French India}}The French establishments of India are all located in the [[Indian peninsula]]. As of 1839, these establishments are<ref>Chapitre II, Notices statistiques sur les colonies françaises, 1839.</ref>


# On the [[Coramandel coast]],
# On the [[Coramandel coast]],
#* '''[[Pondicherry|Pondichéry]]''' and its territory comprising districts of Pondichéry, Villenour and Bahour;
#* '''[[Pondicherry|Pondichéry]]''' and its territory comprising districts of Pondichéry, Villenour and Bahour;
#* '''[[Karaikal|Karikal]]''' and its dependent maganams, or districts.
#* '''[[Karaikal|Karikal]]''' and its dependent maganams, or districts.
# On the coast of [[Orissa, India|Orissa]],
# On the coast of [[Andhra Pradesh]],
#* '''[[Yanaon]]''' and its territory comprising dependent aldées or villages;
#* '''[[Yanaon]]''' and its territory comprising dependent aldées or villages;
#* The [[Masulipatam]] loge.
#* The [[Masulipatam]] lodge{{refn|group=note|The French Factory at Masulipatam was founded in 1669}} and a garden named Francepeth.{{refn|group=note|It is the largest and most significant loge among all others and was located on the outskirts of Masulipatam. It included two bungalows, a chapel and some other buildings. Its total area is around 61 acres (0.28sqkm).<ref name="francepethReference1993">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TWjiNLj2jx0C|title=A Geographical Account of Countries Round the Bay of Bengal, 1669 to 1679|author=Thomas Bowrey |publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=1993|isbn=9788120608481 }}</ref>{{rp|64}}}}
# On the [[Malabar coast]],
# On the [[Malabar coast]],
#* '''[[Mahé, India|Mahé]]''' and its territory;
#* '''[[Mahé, India|Mahé]]''' and its territory;
#* The [[Calicut]] loge.
#* The [[Calicut]] loge.{{refn|group=note|This French Loge was within the British-held Calicut town and consisted of 6 acres on the seashore about half a mile north of the Calicut Lighthouse and adjoins the old district jail site.}}
# In [[Bengal]],
# In [[Bengal]],
#* '''[[Chandannagar|Chandernagor]]''' and its territory;
#* '''[[Chandannagar|Chandernagore]]''' and its territory;
#* The five loges of [[Cossimbazar|Cassimbazar]], [[Jugdia]], [[Dacca]], [[Balasore]] and [[Patna]].
#* The five lodges<ref name="LogesinBengalandOrissa">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r2OKvG5wbaAC|title=A History of Modern India, 1480-1950|author=Claude Markovits|publisher=Anthem Press|page=210|year=2004|isbn=9781843311522 }}</ref> of [[Cossimbazar|Cassimbazar]],{{refn|group=note|This factory supplied silk goods cargoes and situated in the heart of silk belt.}} [[Jugdia|Jougdia]],{{refn|group=note|This factory supplied ordinary fabrics to the French East India Company. It was established in 1735 by [[Joseph François Dupleix|Dupleix]].}} [[Dacca]],{{refn|group=note|This factory exported muslins of 4 lakh rupees per annum by the mid-eighteen century. It was founded in 1722.}} [[Balasore]]{{refn|group=note|This factory was founded at the end of the seventeenth century but suffered from a lack of proper road transport and it lost its commercial activity during the next century.}} and [[Patna]].{{refn|group=note|This factory used to sell drapes from Europe and bought saltpetre and opium. It was founded in 1727.}}
# In [[Gujarat]],
# In [[Gujarat]],  
#* [[Surat]] factory.
#* [[Surat]] factory.{{refn|group=note|This factory was founded in 1668 after securing a firman and a factory site from Emperor Aurangazeb.}}


The name 'loge' was given, under the regime of the French East India company, in factories or insulated establishments consisting of a home with an adjacent ground, where France had the right to fly its flag and to form trading posts.
Under the French East India Company's regime, the name 'lodge' was given to factories or insulated establishments consisting of a home with an adjacent ground, where France had the right to fly its flag and form trading posts.


<gallery class="center" widths="200px">
<gallery class="center" widths="200px">
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File:Suffren meeting with Haider Ali, 26 july 1782 engraved by J B Morret 1789.jpg|[[Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez|Suffren]] meeting with ally [[Hyder Ali]] in 1782, J. B. Morret engraving, 1789
File:Suffren meeting with Haider Ali, 26 july 1782 engraved by J B Morret 1789.jpg|[[Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez|Suffren]] meeting with ally [[Hyder Ali]] in 1782, J. B. Morret engraving, 1789
File:French India postage stamps.jpg|French India postage stamps
File:French India postage stamps.jpg|French India postage stamps
File:Fiebig Government House Chandernagore.jpg|Chandernagor's Government House c. 1850
File:Fiebig Government House Chandernagore.jpg|Chandernagore's Government House c. 1850
</gallery>
</gallery>


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* François Baron, 1672–1681
* François Baron, 1672–1681
* [[François Martin (Pondicherry)|François Martin]], 1681 – November 1693
* [[François Martin (Pondicherry)|François Martin]], 1681 – November 1693
*'' Dutch occupation, September 1693 – September 1699 — '''[[Treaty of Ryswick]]''' (1697)
* ''Dutch occupation'', September 1693 – September 1699 — '''[[Treaty of Ryswick]]''' (1697)
 
===Governors===
In the days of the French East India Company, the title of the top official was most of the time Governor of Pondicherry and General Commander of the French settlements in the East Indies ({{lang-fr|Gouverneur de Pondichéry et commandant général des établissements français aux Indes orientales}}). After 1816, it was Governor of French establishments in India ({{lang-fr|Gouverneur des établissements français de l'Inde'}}).


=== Governors ===
In the days of the French East India Company, the title of the top official was most of the time Governor of Pondicherry and General Commander of the French settlements in the East Indies ({{lang-fr|Gouverneur de Pondichéry et commandant général des établissements français aux Indes orientales}}). After 1816, it was Governor of French establishments in India ({{lang-fr|Gouverneur des établissements français de l'Inde'}}).[[File:Quai Duplex at Strand Road Chandernagor.jpg|thumb|376x376px|Quai Dupleix at Strand Road [[Chandannagar|Chandernagor]]]][[File:Chandernagor Government Place and Covent.jpg|thumb|379x379px|[[Chandannagar|Chandernagore]] Government House and Convent]]
* [[François Martin (Pondicherry)|François Martin]], September 1699 – 31 December 1706
* [[François Martin (Pondicherry)|François Martin]], September 1699 – 31 December 1706
* [[Pierre Dulivier]], January 1707 – July 1708
* [[Pierre Dulivier]] (Acting), January 1707 – July 1708
* [[Guillaume André d'Hébert]], 1708–1712
* [[Guillaume André d'Hébert]], 1708–1712
* [[Pierre Dulivier]], 1712–1717
* [[Pierre Dulivier]], 1713–1715
* [[Guillaume André d'Hébert]], 1717–1718
* [[Guillaume André d'Hébert]], 1715–1718
* [[Pierre André Prévost de La Prévostière]], August 1718 – 11 October 1721
* [[Pierre André Prévost de La Prévostière]], August 1718 – 11 October 1721
* [[Pierre Christoph Le Noir]] (Acting), 1721–1723
* [[Pierre Christoph Le Noir]] (Acting), 1721–1723
* [[Joseph Beauvollier de Courchant]], 1723–1726
* [[Joseph Beauvollier de Courchant]], 1723–1726
* [[Pierre Christoph Le Noir]], 1726–1734
* [[Pierre Christoph Le Noir]], 1727–1734
* [[Pierre Benoît Dumas]], 1734–1741
* [[Pierre Benoît Dumas]], 1735–1741
* [[Joseph François Dupleix]], 14 January 1742 – 15 October 1754
* [[Joseph François Dupleix]], 14 January 1742 – 15 October 1754
* [[Charles Godeheu]], Le commissaire (Acting), 15 October 1754 – 1754
* [[Charles Godeheu]], Le commissaire (Acting), 15 October 1754 – 1754
* [[Georges Duval de Leyrit]], 1754–1758
* [[Georges Duval de Leyrit]], 1756–1758
* [[Thomas Arthur, comte de Lally]], 1758 – 1761 January 1761
* [[Thomas Arthur, comte de Lally]], 1758 – January 1761
* First British occupation, January 15, 1761 – June 25, 1765 — [[Treaty of Paris (1763)]]
* First British occupation, January 15, 1761 – June 25, 1765 — [[Treaty of Paris (1763)]]
* [[Jean Law de Lauriston]], 1765–1766
* [[Jean Law de Lauriston]], 1765–1766
* [[Antoine Boyellau]], 1766–1767
* [[Antoine Boyellau]] (Acting), 1766–1767
* [[Jean Law de Lauriston]], 1767 – January 1777
* [[Jean Law de Lauriston]], 1767 – January 1777[[File:Chandernagor Government House.jpg|thumb|376x376px|[[Chandannagar|Chandernagor]] ''Government House'']]
* Second British occupation, 1778 – 1783 – [[Peace of Paris (1783)|Treaty of Paris (1783)]]
* Second British occupation, 1778 – 1783 – [[Peace of Paris (1783)|Treaty of Paris (1783)]]
* [[Guillaume de Bellecombe|Guillaume de Bellecombe, seigneur de Teirac]], January 1777 – 1778
* [[Guillaume de Bellecombe|Guillaume de Bellecombe, seigneur de Teirac]], January 1777 – 1778
* [[Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau|Charles Joseph Pâtissier, Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau]], 1783–1785
* [[Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau|Charles Joseph Pâtissier, Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau]], 1783–1785
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* [[Pierre Louis Alfred Duprat]], July 1911 – November 1913
* [[Pierre Louis Alfred Duprat]], July 1911 – November 1913
* [[Alfred Albert Martineau]], November 1913 – 29 June 1918
* [[Alfred Albert Martineau]], November 1913 – 29 June 1918
* [[Pierre Étienne Clayssen]] (acting), 29 June 1918 – 21 February 1919
* [[Pierre Étienne Clayssen]] (Acting), 29 June 1918 – 21 February 1919
* [[Louis Martial Innocent Gerbinis]], 21 February 1919 – 11 February 1926
* [[Louis Martial Innocent Gerbinis]], 21 February 1919 – 11 February 1926
* [[Henri Léo Eugène Lagroua]] (Acting), 11 February 1926 – 5 August 1926
* [[Henri Léo Eugène Lagroua]] (Acting), 11 February 1926 – 5 August 1926
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French India became an [[Overseas territory (France)|Overseas territory]] ({{lang-fr|territoire d'outre-mer}}) of France in 1946.
French India became an [[Overseas territory (France)|Overseas territory]] ({{lang-fr|territoire d'outre-mer}}) of France in 1946.


===Commissioners===
=== Commissioners ===
* [[Charles François Marie Baron]], 20 August 1947 – May 1949
* [[Charles François Marie Baron]], 20 August 1947 – May 1949
* [[Charles Chambon]], May 1949 – 31 July 1950
* [[Charles Chambon]], May 1949 – 31 July 1950
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French India ''[[de facto]]'' transferred to the [[India|Republic of India]] in 1954.
French India ''[[de facto]]'' transferred to the [[India|Republic of India]] in 1954.


===High Commissioners===
=== High Commissioners ===
{{See also|List of lieutenant governors of Puducherry}}
{{See also|List of lieutenant governors of Puducherry}}
The first High Commissioner, Kewal Singh was appointed immediately after the ''Kizhoor referendum'' on 21 October 1954 as per Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947.<ref name="ref2004"/>{{rp|964}} The Chief Commissioner had the powers of the former French commissioner, but was under the direct control of the Union Government.<ref name="reference1963">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7We3DQAAQBAJ|title=The Statesman's Year-Book 1963: The One-Volume ENCYCLOPAEDIA of all nations|work=S. Steinberg|publisher=MACMILLAN&Co.LTD, London|year=1963}}</ref>{{rp|198}}
{{see|List of consuls general of India in the French India}}
The first High Commissioner, Kewal Singh was appointed immediately after the ''Kizhoor referendum'' on 21 October 1954 as per Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947.<ref name="ref2004"/>{{rp|964}} The Chief Commissioner had the powers of the former French commissioner, but was under the direct control of the Union Government.<ref name="reference1963">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7We3DQAAQBAJ|title=The Statesman's Year-Book 1963: The One-Volume ENCYCLOPAEDIA of all nations|work=S. Steinberg|publisher=MACMILLAN&Co.LTD, London|year=1963|isbn=9780230270893 }}</ref>{{rp|198}}


The list of Chief Commissioners is given below<ref name="ref2004">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DFqbAAAAMAAJ|title=Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature|work= G. C. Malhotra|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat|year=2004}}</ref>{{rp|977}}
The list of Chief Commissioners is given below<ref name="ref2004">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DFqbAAAAMAAJ|title=Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature|work= G. C. Malhotra|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat|year=2004|isbn=9788120004009 }}</ref>{{rp|977}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
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|  17 November 1956||27 August 1958
|  17 November 1956||27 August 1958
|-
|-
| 3 || {{Sortname|Lal Ram Saran|Singh}}<ref name="reference1960">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7We3DQAAQBAJ|title=The Statesman's Year-Book 1960: The One-Volume ENCYCLOPAEDIA of all nations|work=S. Steinberg|publisher=MACMILLAN&Co.LTD, London|year=1960}}</ref>{{rp|197}}
| 3 || {{Sortname|Lal Ram Saran|Singh}}<ref name="reference1960">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7We3DQAAQBAJ|title=The Statesman's Year-Book 1960: The One-Volume ENCYCLOPAEDIA of all nations|work=S. Steinberg|publisher=MACMILLAN&Co.LTD, London|year=1960|isbn=9780230270893 }}</ref>{{rp|197}}
|  30 August 1958||8 February 1961
|  30 August 1958||8 February 1961
|-
|-
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* [[Apostolic Prefecture of French Colonies in India]] (Catholic mission)
* [[Apostolic Prefecture of French Colonies in India]] (Catholic mission)
* [[British Raj]]
* [[British Raj]]
* [[Colonialism in India]]
* [[Colonial India]]
* [[Coup d'état of Yanaon]]
* [[Coup d'état of Yanaon]]
* [[Danish India]]
* [[Danish India]]
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== Notes ==
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
{{notelist}}
{{reflist|group=note}}


== References ==
== References ==
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* Sudipta Das (1992). ''Myths and realities of French imperialism in India, 1763–1783''. New York: P. Lang. {{ISBN|0820416762}}. 459pp.
* Sudipta Das (1992). ''Myths and realities of French imperialism in India, 1763–1783''. New York: P. Lang. {{ISBN|0820416762}}. 459pp.


== External links ==
==External links==
{{Commons category|French India}}
 
*[https://frenchbooksonindia.com/ Frenchbooksonindia.com, an open access multilingual discovery tool with book data from 1531 to 2020, full-text ebooks from 1531 to 1937 and in-text search from c. 1830 to c. 1920]
*[https://frenchbooksonindia.com/ Frenchbooksonindia.com, an open access multilingual discovery tool with book data from 1531 to 2020, full-text ebooks from 1531 to 1937 and in-text search from c. 1830 to c. 1920]
* [[V. Sankaran]], [http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr98/fe0898/f1808986.html ''Freedom struggle in Pondicherry''] – Gov't of India publication
* [[V. Sankaran]], [http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr98/fe0898/f1808986.html ''Freedom struggle in Pondicherry''] – Gov't of India publication
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[[Category:1769 establishments in French India]]
[[Category:1769 establishments in French India]]
[[Category:1954 disestablishments in French India]]
[[Category:1954 disestablishments in French India]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1769]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1954]]
[[Category:Colonial India]]
[[Category:Colonial India]]
[[Category:Colonial Kerala]]
[[Category:Colonial Kerala]]
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[[Category:Former countries in South Asia]]
[[Category:Former countries in South Asia]]
[[Category:France–India relations]]
[[Category:France–India relations]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1769]]

Revision as of 08:27, 22 July 2023


French Settlements in India
Établissements français dans l'Inde
1664–1954
Flag of French India
Flag
French India (shaded in white) after 1815
French India (shaded in white) after 1815
StatusColony of France (1664–1946)
Overseas Territory of France (1946–1954)
CapitalPondichéry
Common languagesFrench (de jure)[1]
Tamil
Telugu
Malayalam
Bengali
English
GovernmentColonial administration
Governor 
• 1668–1673
François Caron (first) [2]
• 1954
Georges Escaragueil[3]
LegislatureRepresentative Assembly of French India
History 
• First French East India Company Commissioner of Surat
1664
• De facto transfer
1 November 1954
Area
1936510 km2 (200 sq mi)
Population
• 1936
298,861
CurrencyFrench Indian Rupee
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
French East India Company
Puducherry (union territory)
West Bengal
Today part ofIndia
Colonial India
British Indian Empire
Imperial entities of India
Dutch India1605–1825
Danish India1620–1869
French India1668–1954
Portuguese India
(1505–1961)
Casa da Índia1434–1833
Portuguese East India Company1628–1633
British India
(1612–1947)
East India Company1612–1757
Company rule in India1757–1858
British Raj1858–1947
British rule in Burma1824–1948
Princely states1721–1949
Partition of India
1947

French India, formally the Établissements français dans l'Inde[lower-alpha 1] (English: French Settlements in India), was a French colony comprising five geographically separated enclaves on the Indian Subcontinent that had initially been factories of the French East India Company. They were de facto incorporated into the Republic of India in 1950 and 1954. The enclaves were Pondichéry, Karikal, Yanam (Andhra Pradesh) on the Coromandel Coast, Mahé on the Malabar Coast and Chandernagor in Bengal. The French also possessed several loges ('lodges', tiny subsidiary trading stations) inside other towns, but after 1816, the British denied all French claims to these, which were not reoccupied.

By 1950, the total area measured 510 km2 (200 sq mi), of which 293 km2 (113 sq mi) belonged to the territory of Pondichéry. In 1936, the population of the colony totalled 298,851 inhabitants, of which 63% (187,870) lived in the territory of Pondichéry.[4]

Background

See also: Franco-Indian alliances, Colonial History of Yanam, and History of Puducherry
India at the height of French influence (1751)
A portrait of Ananda Ranga Pillai
File:Yanaon.jpg
Colonial Yanaon
View of Pondicherry in the late 18th century
French factory (trading post) at Patna on the Ganges
Governor's Garden at Pondicherry, 18th century
View of the Palace of the Governor of Pondicherry in 1850

France was the last of the major European maritime powers of the 17th century to enter the East India trade. Six decades after the foundation of the English and Dutch East India companies (in 1600 and 1602 respectively), and at a time when both companies were multiplying factories (trading posts) on the shores of India, the French still did not have a viable trading company or a single permanent establishment in the East.

Seeking to explain France's late entrance in the East India trade, historians cite geopolitical circumstances such as the inland position of the French capital, France's numerous internal customs barriers, and parochial perspectives of merchants on France's Atlantic coast, who had little appetite for the large-scale investment required to develop a viable trading enterprise with the distant East Indies.[5][6]

History

Initial marine voyages to India (16th century)

The first French commercial venture to India is believed to have taken place in the first half of the 16th century, in the reign of King Francis I, when two ships were fitted out by some merchants of Rouen to trade in eastern seas; they sailed from Le Havre and were never heard of again. In 1604, a company was granted letters patent by King Henry IV, but the project failed. Fresh letters patent were issued in 1615, and two ships went to India, only one returning.[7]

La Compagnie française des Indes orientales (French East India Company) was formed under the auspices of Cardinal Richelieu (1642) and reconstructed under Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1664), sending an expedition to Madagascar.[8][9][7]

First factory in India (1668)

In 1667, the French India Company sent out another expedition, under the command of François Caron (who was accompanied by a Persian named Marcara), which reached Surat in 1668 and established the first French factory in India.[8][9]

French expansion in India (1669-1672)

In 1669, Marcara succeeded in establishing another French factory at Masulipatam. In 1672, the French captured Fort Saint Thomas, but they were driven out by the Dutch after a long and costly siege. Chandernagore (present-day Chandannagar) was established in 1692, with the permission of Nawab Shaista Khan, the Mughal governor of Bengal. In 1673, the French acquired the area of Pondicherry from the qiladar of Valikondapuram under the Sultan of Bijapur, and thus the foundation of Pondichéry was laid. By 1720, the French had lost their factories at Surat, Masulipatam and Bantam to the British East India Company.

Establishment of colony at Pondichéry (1673)

On 4 February 1673, Bellanger de l'Espinay, a French officer, took up residence in the Danish Lodge in Pondichéry, thereby commencing the French administration of Pondichéry. In 1674, François Martin, the first Governor, initiated ambitious projects to transform Pondichéry from a small fishing village into a flourishing port-town. However, the French found themselves in continual conflict with the Dutch and the English. In 1693, the Dutch captured Pondichéry and augmented the fortifications. The French regained the town in 1699 through the Treaty of Ryswick, signed on 20 September 1697.

Establishment of colonies at Yanon (1723) and Karaikal (1739)

From their arrival until 1741, the objectives of the French, like those of the British, were purely commercial. During this period, the French East India Company peacefully acquired Yanam (about 840 kilometres or 520 miles north-east of Pondichéry on Andhra Coast) in 1723, Mahe on Malabar Coast in 1725 and Karaikal (about 150 kilometres or 93 miles south of Pondichéry) in 1739. In the early 18th century, the town of Pondichéry was laid out on a grid pattern and grew considerably. Able governors like Pierre Christophe Le Noir (1726–1735) and Pierre Benoît Dumas (1735–1741) expanded the Pondichéry area and made it a large and rich town.

Ambition of establishment of French territorial empire in India and defeat (1741-1754)

Soon after his arrival in 1741, the most famous governor of French India, Joseph François Dupleix, began to cherish the ambition of a French territorial empire in India in spite of the pronounced uninterested attitude of his distant superiors and of the French government, which didn't want to provoke the British. Dupleix's ambition clashed with British interests in India and a period of military skirmishes and political intrigues began and continued even in rare periods when France and Great Britain were officially at peace. Under the command of the Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau, Dupleix's army successfully controlled the area between Hyderabad and Cape Comorin. However, Robert Clive, a British officer, arrived in India in 1744, and dashed the hopes of Dupleix to create a French empire in India.

After a defeat and failed peace talks, Dupleix was summarily dismissed and recalled to France in 1754.

French vs British intrigues (1754-1871)

In spite of a treaty between the British and French agreeing not to interfere in regional Indian affairs, their colonial intrigues continued. The French expanded their influence at the court of the Nawab of Bengal and increased their trading activity in Bengal. In 1756, the French encouraged the Nawab (Siraj ud-Daulah) to attack and take the British Fort William in Calcutta. This led to the Battle of Plassey in 1757, where the British decisively defeated the Nawab and his French allies, resulting in the extension of British power over the entire province of Bengal.

Subsequently, France sent Lally-Tollendal to recover the lost French possessions and drive the British out of India. Lally arrived in Pondichéry in 1758, had some initial success and razed Fort St. David in Cuddalore District to the ground in 1758, but strategic mistakes by Lally led to the loss of the Hyderabad region, the Battle of Wandiwash and the siege of Pondicherry in 1760. In 1761, the British razed Pondichéry to the ground in revenge for the French depredations; it lay in ruins for four years. The French had lost their hold now in South India too.

In 1765, Pondichéry was returned to France in accordance with a 1763 peace treaty with Britain. Governor Jean Law de Lauriston set to rebuild the town on its former layout and after five months 200 European and 2000 Tamil houses had been erected. In 1769, the French East India Company, unable to support itself financially, was abolished by the French Crown, which assumed administration of the French possessions in India. During the next 50 years, Pondichéry changed hands between France and Britain with the regularity of their wars and peace treaties.

In 1816, after the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars, the five establishments of Pondichéry, Chandernagore, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam and the lodges at Machilipatnam, Kozhikode and Surat were returned to France. Pondichéry had lost much of its former glory, and Chandernagore dwindled into an insignificant outpost to the north of the rapidly growing British metropolis of Calcutta. Successive governors tried, with mixed results, to improve infrastructure, industry, law and education over the next 138 years.

By a decree of 25 January 1871, French India was to have an elective general council (conseil général) and elective local councils (conseil local). The results of this measure were not very satisfactory, and the qualifications for and the classes of the franchise were modified. The governor resided at Pondichéry and was assisted by a council. There were two Tribunaux d'instance (Tribunals of first instance) (at Pondichéry and Karikal) one Cour d'appel (Court of Appeal) (at Pondichéry) and five Juges de paix (Justices of the Peace). Agricultural production consisted of rice, peanuts, tobacco, betel nuts and vegetables.[7]

French India
Pondichéry
Pondichéry
Karikal
Karikal
Masulipatam
Masulipatam
Mahé
Mahé
Calicut
Calicut
Chandernagore
Chandernagore
Cassimbazar
Cassimbazar
Jugdia
Jugdia
Dacca
Dacca
Balasore
Balasore
Patna
Patna
Surat
Surat
Yanaon
Yanaon
French establishments and loges as of 1947
  Bengal   Coromandel coast   Gujarat   Malabar coast   Orissa

Independence movement (18th-20th century) and merger with India (1954)

The Independence of India on 15 August 1947 gave impetus to the union of France's Indian possessions with former British India. The lodges in Machilipatnam, Kozhikode and Surat were ceded to India on 6 October 1947.[10] An agreement between France and India in 1948 agreed to an election in France's remaining Indian possessions to choose their political future. Governance of Chandernagore was ceded to India on 2 May 1950; it was then merged with West Bengal state on 2 October 1954. On 1 November 1954, the four enclaves of Pondichéry, Yanam, Mahe, and Karikal were de facto transferred to the Indian Union and became the Union Territory of Puducherry. The de jure union of French India with India did not take place until 1962 when the French Parliament in Paris ratified the treaty with India.

List of French establishments in India

Further information: Municipal administration in French India

The French establishments of India are all located in the Indian peninsula. As of 1839, these establishments are[11]

  1. On the Coramandel coast,
    • Pondichéry and its territory comprising districts of Pondichéry, Villenour and Bahour;
    • Karikal and its dependent maganams, or districts.
  2. On the coast of Andhra Pradesh,
  3. On the Malabar coast,
  4. In Bengal,
  5. In Gujarat,

Under the French East India Company's regime, the name 'lodge' was given to factories or insulated establishments consisting of a home with an adjacent ground, where France had the right to fly its flag and form trading posts.

  • Pro-merger movement of French Settlements in India, 1954
    Pro-merger movement of French Settlements in India, 1954
  • Dupleix meeting the Soudhabar of the Deccan, Murzapha Jung
    Dupleix meeting the Soudhabar of the Deccan, Murzapha Jung
  • Suffren meeting with ally Hyder Ali in 1782, J. B. Morret engraving, 1789
    Suffren meeting with ally Hyder Ali in 1782, J. B. Morret engraving, 1789
  • French India postage stamps
    French India postage stamps
  • Chandernagore's Government House c. 1850
    Chandernagore's Government House c. 1850

List of chief governing officers

Commissioners

Governors

In the days of the French East India Company, the title of the top official was most of the time Governor of Pondicherry and General Commander of the French settlements in the East Indies (French: Gouverneur de Pondichéry et commandant général des établissements français aux Indes orientales). After 1816, it was Governor of French establishments in India (French: Gouverneur des établissements français de l'Inde').

Quai Dupleix at Strand Road Chandernagor
Chandernagore Government House and Convent

French India became an Overseas territory (French: territoire d'outre-mer) of France in 1946.

Commissioners

French India de facto transferred to the Republic of India in 1954.

High Commissioners

See also: List of lieutenant governors of Puducherry
Further information: List of consuls general of India in the French India

The first High Commissioner, Kewal Singh was appointed immediately after the Kizhoor referendum on 21 October 1954 as per Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947.[14]:964 The Chief Commissioner had the powers of the former French commissioner, but was under the direct control of the Union Government.[15]:198

The list of Chief Commissioners is given below[14]:977

No. Name Took office Left office
1 Kewal Singh 21 October 1954 16 November 1956
2 M.K. Kripalani[16]:103 17 November 1956 27 August 1958
3 Lal Ram Saran Singh[17]:197 30 August 1958 8 February 1961
4 Sisir Kumar Dutta[18] 2 May 1961 1 August 1963
5 K.J. Somasundaram 2 August 1963 13 October 1963

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ In France, it was popularly known as les Comptoirs de l'Inde. Strictly speaking though, a comptoir is a trading station, whereas the five French settlements were entire towns with the surrounding area, and not mere trading stations.
  1. ↑ The French Factory at Masulipatam was founded in 1669
  2. ↑ It is the largest and most significant loge among all others and was located on the outskirts of Masulipatam. It included two bungalows, a chapel and some other buildings. Its total area is around 61 acres (0.28sqkm).[12]:64
  3. ↑ This French Loge was within the British-held Calicut town and consisted of 6 acres on the seashore about half a mile north of the Calicut Lighthouse and adjoins the old district jail site.
  4. ↑ This factory supplied silk goods cargoes and situated in the heart of silk belt.
  5. ↑ This factory supplied ordinary fabrics to the French East India Company. It was established in 1735 by Dupleix.
  6. ↑ This factory exported muslins of 4 lakh rupees per annum by the mid-eighteen century. It was founded in 1722.
  7. ↑ This factory was founded at the end of the seventeenth century but suffered from a lack of proper road transport and it lost its commercial activity during the next century.
  8. ↑ This factory used to sell drapes from Europe and bought saltpetre and opium. It was founded in 1727.
  9. ↑ This factory was founded in 1668 after securing a firman and a factory site from Emperor Aurangazeb.

References

  1. ↑ Not as widespread; regional and local as well as English
  2. ↑ as Commissioner
  3. ↑ as High Commissioner
  4. ↑ Jacques Weber, Pondichéry et les comptoirs de l'Inde après Dupleix, Éditions Denoël, Paris, 1996, p. 347.
  5. ↑ Holden Furber, Rival Empires of Trade in the Orient, 1600–1800, University of Minnesota Press, 1976, p. 201.
  6. ↑ Philippe Haudrère, Les Compagnies des Indes Orientales, Paris, 2006, p 70.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "India, French". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 14 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 421.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lach, Donald Frederick (1998), Asia in the making of Europe, p. 747, ISBN 9780226467672.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Cambridge history of the British Empire, 1940, p. 66.
  10. ↑ Accord par échange de lettres relatif à la date de la cession des anciennes loges françaises de l'Inde au gouvernement de l'Inde [Agreement by exchange of letters relating to the date of the cession of the former French lodges of India to the Government of India] (in French). Paris: Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères. 1947. p. 5. Retrieved 2 September 2022. the Government of India note and accept with pleasure the decision of the Government of France that October 6th will be the day from which the historic rights which France has exercised in the areas known as the French Loges in India will be renounced.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  11. ↑ Chapitre II, Notices statistiques sur les colonies françaises, 1839.
  12. ↑ Thomas Bowrey (1993). A Geographical Account of Countries Round the Bay of Bengal, 1669 to 1679. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 9788120608481.
  13. ↑ Claude Markovits (2004). A History of Modern India, 1480-1950. Anthem Press. p. 210. ISBN 9781843311522.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature. Lok Sabha Secretariat. 2004. ISBN 9788120004009. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  15. ↑ The Statesman's Year-Book 1963: The One-Volume ENCYCLOPAEDIA of all nations. MACMILLAN&Co.LTD, London. 1963. ISBN 9780230270893. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  16. ↑ "Civil Affairs". Monthly Journal of Local Govt. and Public Administration in India. 1958.
  17. ↑ The Statesman's Year-Book 1960: The One-Volume ENCYCLOPAEDIA of all nations. MACMILLAN&Co.LTD, London. 1960. ISBN 9780230270893. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  18. ↑ "The Statesman's Year-Book 1963: The One-Volume ENCYCLOPAEDIA of all nations". S. Steinberg. MACMILLAN&Co.LTD, London. 1963. pp. 474–475.

Bibliography

  • Sudipta Das (1992). Myths and realities of French imperialism in India, 1763–1783. New York: P. Lang. ISBN 0820416762. 459pp.

External links

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