The French colonial empire (French: Empire colonial français) consisted of the overseas colonies, protectorates, and mandate territories that came under French rule from the 16th century onward.

Nov 25, 2025 · France probably could have become the leading European colonial power in the 17th and 18th centuries. It had the largest population and wealth, the best army while Louis …

France had colonial possessions, in various forms, from the beginning of the 17th century until the 1960s. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, its global colonial empire was the second …

Colonial affairs were never high on the political agenda, even at moments of crisis, and the French colonial enterprise was supported, albeit unenthusiastically, by a broad consensus of …

Oct 31, 2024 · On the eve of World War I, France's colonial empire was the second-largest in the world after the British Empire. France began to establish colonies in the Americas, the …

The French colonial empire began to fall apart during the Second World War, when various parts of their empire were occupied by foreign powers (Japan in Indochina, Britain in Syria and …

The French colonial empire was one of the largest empires in history, with significant territories in North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. The empire peaked in the early 20th century, …

This is a list of all territories that were part of the French colonial empires in the last 500 years, either entirely or in part, either under French sovereignty or as mandate or protectorate.

Dec 1, 2025 · Discover the history, impact, and lasting legacy of French colonization, from the rise of the empire to its global influence and the post-colonial world.

The French colonial empire (French: Empire colonial français) consisted of the overseas colonies, protectorates, and mandate territories that came under French rule from the 16th century onward.