French Colonial Empire after 1815

by Jenny Meader

The French colonial empire constituted the overseas colonies, protectorates and mandate territories that came under French rule from the 16th century onward. A distinction is generally made between the "first colonial empire," and the “second colonial empire”. In the First Colonial Empire, France began to establish colonies in North America, the Caribbean and India in the 17th century, but lost them in a series of wars with Britain and others by 1814.  Britain restored most of the Caribbean properties to France at the end of the Napoleonic war.  With the "Second Colonial Empire" France acquired Algeria in 1830 and then other new colonies mostly after 1850, concentrating chiefly in Africa as well as Indochina and the South Pacific. The Second Colonial Empire came to an end after the loss in later wars of Indochina (1954) and Algeria (1962), and relatively peaceful decolonisation elsewhere after 1960.

Napoleon

by Oscar Winsey

EARLY LIFE

Born in Ajaccio Corsica in 1769 from middle class parents, his father was a lawyer and local politician, the family did not speak French.  He moved to France as a young man and enrolled at the military school at Brienne where he was mocked and bullied for his country bumpkin ways and speech.  His father died and left the family penniless, fortunately his fees were paid by French king. After 5 years he was able to enter the military school in Paris where in 1785 he received a commission as a lieutenant in the artillery. When the revolution broke out, he was in Valence.  With the revolution of 1789 confusion ensued and here was an opportunity for someone to rise from obscurity with drive and ambition: that person was, of course, Napoleon.  Not only is he renowned for his military prowess, he introduced conscription and training for his men, set up an academy at St Cyr to train infantry officers and the Ecole Polytechnic to train artillery and Engineers.  It was also possible for all ranks to rise to the top on merit alone.  He was decisive in making decisions and very hard working.  

Louis XIV SEPTEMBER 1638---SEPTEMBER 1715

by Judy Cooper

 LOUIS was born in Sept 1638 at St Germain in Paris. His father Louis X111 married Anne of Austria in 1615 and they took 23 years to have their 1st son Louis X1V, who was looked upon as “a gift from heaven”. Anne was 37 and said it was a miracle.    2 years later Philippe was born and known as “ Monsieur” 2^nd in line to the throne. He was also Philippe Duke of Orleans

Louis X111 died when his son and heir was 4 years old, and Louis X1V reigned as King for 72 years and widely held to be the greatest monarch of his age. In that time he transformed the monarchy, ushered in a golden age of art and Literature, presided over a dazzling royal court at Versailles, and made France a dominant European power