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1624-1642 - French Colonies of Richelieu

Cardinal Richelieu [prime minister from 1624 to 1642] did much to encourage schemes of colonial exploration. Before the age of Richelieu, France had accomplished very little along the lines of colonial development. Indeed the period in which he came into power was really the time when the settlement of North America, for example, was in its infancy, so that France had really not considered very seriously, up to that time, the opportunity of carrying on colonial projects in the new continents, although a beginning had been made by Champlain in 1608. Furthermore, internal troubles, religious wars, and unfriendly foreign relations all tended to prevent the predecessors of Henry IV from sending any expeditions of importance outside of the vicinity of France and Italy.

On the other hand, other nations grew stronger on the seas and in colonial enterprises. Spain and Portugal rose for nearly a century, but declined about the time of the Armada in 1588. And then came the age when England and Holland gained rapidly on the sea. England took from France the cloth industry in the Hundred Years' War, and built up her state on a strong protective basis. The Hanseatic league decayed and in its place rose Holland. Colonies in America, Africa, and Asia resulted from the growth in sea power of these nations, and the latter acquired wealth in consequence.

In the seventeenth century came for France the age of Henry IV, Richelieu, and Colbert, and as a result colonial commerce underwent unprecedented growth. What little colonial activity had occurred before the age of Henry IV was based on the motive of discovery and exploration, rather than of industry and settlement. But when Henry IV came to power, mercantilistic ideas were just beginning to take a definite form, and the value of colonies as a means of monetary gain began to be recognized by French statesmen. In other words, Henry IV and Richelieu simply applied in France the system inaugurated by England and Holland, namely, a plan of colonization founded upon the general interests and permanent needs of the country, and not upon such dreams as a search for the northwest passage, or some other particular interest, such as the religious basis of the colonization of Coligny.

Inspired by the colonial activities of England and Holland, both Henry IV and Richelieu tried to foster ideas in regard to the foundation of great colonization companies, which were more or less new to the French people. This was done "in order to make ourselves masters of the sea, and to form great companies, to encourage merchants to enter, and give great privileges to these companies as they came into existence, just 4$ foreigners have done.''8 However, lacking money, as was the case with the governments of England and Holland, the French government could not back the companies, but simply encouraged, guided and protected them, leaving in the hands of individuals the financial risks and the details of administration.

Not much in a colonial way was accomplished by Henry IV. Colonial enterprises lacked experience and national character, they were too local, weak in capital, and narrow in viewpoint to use their privileges to the utmost. In fact Henry IV did not live long enough to form any definite colonial policy, so that it fell to Richelieu to initiate the colonial expeditions of France.

When the Cardinal came into power, he began immediately to build up the strength of the French nation as a colonizing state. Aided by the accomplishments of Henry IV, and such ideas as are found in the work of Montchretien, he made colonization a political and economic question, involving the growth of France. This problem was treated with diplomatic reserve, and as a consequence little was written concerning it by contemporary writers. However, it is known that Champlain and other well known advocates of colonization projects recognized in the Cardinal the true leader of this movement.

Richelieu saw the advantages and difficulties in the way of colonial expansion on the part of France. He knew that he would have to face the opposition of England, Spain, and Holland on the sea. But that did not stop him, for as soon as he assumed the office of the head of navigation and commerce, he began to plan a war and merchant marine and commercial companies, which were to settle and build up economically and politically new territorial possessions for France in America, Africa, and Asia.

His principal aims in farming colonies were: (1) to establish and multiply colonies, to people them with French colonists, and maintain there the Catholic religion to the exclusion of all others; (2) to enliven commerce and promote a war marine for protection. It is interesting to note that Colbert borrowed this policy from him and completed it. But the necessity ot consolidating his position against internal enemies left Richelieu time before his death only to found the company which, under the leadership of Pronis and Flacourt, colonised Madagascar Indeed, many later observers failed to realize the important part played by Richelieu in colonial development, or mixed his achievements and initiative with those of Colbert. In the thoughts of Richelieu, the maritime and colonial supremacy of France held a place equal to the idea that the Hapsburgs must be ruined. These were the two threads, which were really connected and were to unite to form the grandeur of France.