The French East India Company: Corporate Rivalry in the Indian Ocean

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the lesser-known story of the French East India Company (Compagnie des Indes Orientales), founded by Jean-Baptiste Colbert in 1664. They trace its rise and fall, from the founding of Pondicherry by François Martin to the pivotal role of Joseph François Dupleix in the Carnatic Wars. The episode delves into the company's struggles against the British and Dutch, its trading networks in textiles and spices, and the legacy of French colonialism in India. Key figures like the Nawab of Arcot and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb are discussed, as well as the Siege of Pondicherry and the Battle of Plassey's indirect effects. The conversation highlights how French colonial ambitions in the Indian Ocean shaped global trade and set the stage for later conflicts. #FrenchEastIndiaCompany #CompagnieDesIndesOrientales #Pondicherry #FrançoisMartin #Dupleix #CarnaticWars #Colbert #IndianOcean #ColonialRivalry #TextileTrade #MughalEmpire #Aurangzeb #SiegeOfPondicherry #BattleOfPlassey #GlobalTrade #Colonialism #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo