French East India Company

The French East India Company was a commercial enterprise established in 1664 by France to compete with other European powers in trade and colonization in South Asia and the Indian Ocean. It aimed to develop trade routes, establish colonies, and profit from goods like textiles, spices, and exotic products. The company was similar to other national companies of the time, like the British and Dutch East India Companies, but struggled with financial and military challenges. Its most notable colony was Pondicherry in India. The company operated until 1769, when France took direct control of its colonial possessions.