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. When only a part of the country was under French rule, that part is listed in parentheses after the country. When there are no parentheses, it means the whole country was formerly part of any one of the French colonial empires. Countries listed are those where French sovereignty applied effectively. Areas that were only claimed, but not effectively controlled (such as [[Manhattan]] or [[Western Australia]]) are not listed.
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. When only a part of the country was under French rule, that part is listed in parentheses after the country. When there are no parentheses, it means the whole country was formerly part of any one of the French colonial empires. Countries listed are those where French sovereignty applied effectively. Areas that were only claimed, but not effectively controlled (such as [[Manhattan]] or [[Western Australia]]) are not listed.
;N.B.:
==In the Americas==
*”1st” means the country/territory was part of the first French colonial empire. (pre 1814/1815)
{{further|List of French forts in North America|Company of the American Islands}}
*”2nd” means the country/territory was part of the second French colonial empire. (post 1830)
{{see also|Former colonies and territories in Canada|Timeline of the colonization of North America}}
*”Now” means this is a territory still part of the French Republic today.
==The Americas==
[[Image:Claude Bernou Carte de lAmerique septentrionale.jpg|right|thumb|Map of the northern part and upper southern parts of the [[Americas]], showing the results of the expeditions of [[Jacques Marquette|Father Marquette]] and [[Louis Jolliet]] (1673) and of [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle|Cavelier de la Salle]] in the [[Mississippi]] valley (1681).]]
===North America===
[[Image:New France Colonies Map.svg|right|thumb|Map of the territories having been controlled by France in North America.]]
{{main|New France}}
[[Image:Frank bond 1912 louisiana and the louisiana purchase.jpg|right|thumb|This map shows the [[Louisiana Purchase]] area, which corresponds approximately with the western half of colonial French Louisiana, the part not ceded to English-speaking peoples in [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|1763]].]]
*[[Canada]] (most of eastern and central Canada, see [[Acadia]] and [[Canada, New France]])—1st
[[Image:Lasalle au Mississippi.jpg|thumb|right|Taking up of the [[Louisiana (New France)|Louisiana]] by [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle|La Salle]] in the name of the [[Kingdom of France]]]]
*[[Saint-Pierre and Miquelon]]—1st, 2nd, & now
[[Image:N FR.JPG|thumb|200px|New France at its greatest extent in 1710.]]
*[[United States]] (entire basin of the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]] and [[Missouri River|Missouri]] rivers, [[Great Lakes]], see [[Louisiana (New France)]])—1st
* Present-day [[Canada]]
** [[New France]] (1534–1763)
* Present-day [[United States]]
** The [[French colonization of Texas|Fort Saint Louis]] ([[Texas]]) (1685–1689)
** [[Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands]] (1650–1733)
** [[Fort Caroline]] in [[French Florida]] (occupation by Huguenots) (1562–1565)
** [[Vincennes, Indiana|Vincennes]] and [[Fort Ouiatenon]] in Indiana
** [[French Louisiana]]
** [[Louisiana (New France)]] (1672–1764)
* Present-day [[Brazil]]
** [[France Équinoxiale]] (Bay of São Luis) (1610–1615)
** The [[Santo Aleixo Island|island of Saint Alexis]] (1531)
** [[France Antarctique]], to [[Fort Coligny]] (Rio de Janeiro Bay; intended as a haven for Huguenots) (1555–1567)
** [[Fernando de Noronha|Île Delphine]]’s island (1736–1737)
* Present-day [[Haiti]]
** [[St. Domingue]] (1627–1804)
* Present-day [[Dominican Republic]] (1795–1809)
* Present-day [[Suriname]]
** [[Tapanahony]] (District of [[Sipaliwini District|Sipaliwini]]) (Controversial Franco-Dutch in favour of the [[Netherlands]]) (25.8% of the current territory) (1814)
* Present-day [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]]
** [[Saint Christopher Island]] (1628–1690, 1698–1702, 1706, 1782–1783)
** [[File:NouvelleFrance-Vraie-Version.png|thumb|[[New France]] and other French territories in North America]][[Nevis]] (1782–1784)
* Present-day [[Antigua and Barbuda]]
** [[Antigua]] (briefly in 1666)
* Present-day [[Trinidad and Tobago]]
** [[Tobago]] (1666–1667, 1781–1793, 1802–1803)
* [[Dominica]] (1625–1763, 1778–1783)
* [[Grenada]] (1650–1762, 1779–1783)
* [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]] (1719–1763, 1779–1783)
* [[Saint Lucia]] (1650–1723, 1756–1778, 1784–1803)
* [[Montserrat]] (1666, 1712)
* [[Falkland Islands]] (1504, 1701, 1764–1767)
* [[Îles des Saintes]] (1648–present)
* [[Marie-Galante]] (1635–present)
* [[La Désirade]] (1635–present)
* [[Guadeloupe]] (1635–present)
* [[Martinique]] (1635–present)
* [[French Guiana]] (1604–present)
* [[Saint Pierre and Miquelon]] (1604–1713, 1763–present)
* [[Collectivity of Saint Martin]] (1624–present)
* [[Saint Barthélemy]] (1648–1784, 1878–present)
* [[Clipperton Island]] (1858–present)
===Caribbean===
==In Southern Europe==
* [[Malta]] (1798–1800)
*[[]] ()
*[[Antigua and Barbuda]] (briefly)—1st
* [[Autonomous Province of Korçë]] (1916-1920)
*[[Dominica]]—1st
*[[Dominican Republic]] (briefly)—1st
*[[Grenada]]—1st
*[[Guadeloupe]]—1st, 2nd, & now
*[[Haiti]]—1st
*[[Martinique]]—1st, 2nd, & now
*[[Montserrat]] (briefly)—1st
*[[Saint Martin (island)|Saint Martin]] (northern half only)—1st, 2nd, & now
*[[Saint-Barthélemy]]—1st, 2nd, & now
*[[Saint Lucia]]—1st
*[[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]—1st
*[[Sint Eustatius]] (briefly)—1st
*[[St Kitts and Nevis]] ([[St Kitts]], but not [[Nevis]])—1st
*[[Trinidad and Tobago]] ([[Tobago]] only)—1st
*[[US Virgin Islands]] ([[Saint Croix]] only)—1st
==In Africa==
== ==
*[[Brazil]] ([[Rio de Janeiro]] briefly, and [[São Luís, Maranhão|São Luís]] briefly)—1st
{{main|French Africa}}
(see [[France Antarctique]] and [[France Équinoxiale]])
[[Image:Map of Africa (2674833839).jpg|thumb|right|Map of French colonies in Africa (in green)]]
*[[French Guiana]]—1st, 2nd, & now
==Africa ==
[[File:Map of territories that have been French in the south of Africa throughout history.png|thumb|Map of territories that have been French in the south of Africa throughout history]]
===North Africa===
{{Clear}}
{| class=”wikitable”
!width=”300″|Name of territory
!width=”100″|Dates
!width=”400″|Status
!width=”400″|Comments
|-
|rowspan=”3″|[[Algeria]]
|1830
|Colony
|
|-
|1848
|annexed to [[France]]
|
|-
|1962
|Independent
|
|-
|rowspan=”2″|[[Morocco]]
|1912
|protectorate
|
|-
|1956
|Independent
|
|-
|rowspan=”2″|[[Egypt]]
|1798
|protectorate
|
|-
|1801
|Independent
|
|-
|rowspan=”2″|[[Tunisia]]
|1881
|protectorate
|
|-
|1956
|Independent
|
===[[French North Africa]]===
|-
|-
|}
===West Africa===
* [[French Algeria]] (Territorial department directly integrated into France) (1830–1962)
*[[Benin]] (as Dahomey)—2nd
* [[French protectorate of Tunisia|Protectorate of Tunisia]] (1881–1956)
*[[Burkina Faso]] (as Upper Volta)—2nd
* [[French protectorate in Morocco|Protectorate in Morocco]] (1912–1956)
*[[Côte d’Ivoire]]—2nd
*[[Guinea]]—2nd
*[[Mali]] (as French Sudan)—2nd
*[[Mauritania]]—2nd
*[[Niger]]—2nd
*[[Senegal]]—1st & 2nd
*[[Togo]]—2nd
===[[French West Africa]]===
=== Africa===
*[[Cameroon]] (91% of Cameroon)—2nd
* [[Liberia]] Liberia Boundary Treaty was signed
*[[Central African Republic]] (as [[Oubangui-Chari]])—2nd
* [[French Guinea]] (1847–1958)
*[[Chad]]—2nd
* [[Ivory Coast]] (1843–1960)
*[[Democratic Republic of Congo]] (‘Congo-Kinshasa’)—2nd
* [[Dahomey]] or [[French Dahomey]] (now [[Benin]]) (1883–1960)
*[[Gabon]]—2nd
** Independent of [[Dahomey]], under French protectorate in 1889
*[[Republic of the Congo]] (‘Congo-Brazzaville’)—2nd
** [[Porto-Novo]] (protectorate) (1863–1865, 1882)
** [[Cotonou]] (protectorate) (1868)
* [[French Sudan]] (now [[Mali]]) (1883–1960)
** [[Senegambia and Niger]] (1902–1904)
* [[Mauritania]] (1902–1960)
**[[Emirate of Adrar|Adrar]] emirate (protectorate) (1909)
** The [[Tagant Region|Tagant]] confederation’s emirate (protectorate) (1905)
** [[Brakna]] confederation’s emirate (protectorate)
** [[Emirate of Trarza]] (protectorate) (1902)
* [[Niger]] (1890–1960)
** [[Sultanate of Damagaram]] ([[Zinder]]) (protectorate) (1899)
* [[Senegal]] (1677–1960)
* [[French Upper Volta]] (now [[Burkina Faso]]) (1896–1960)
* [[French Togoland]] (1918–1960) (formerly a [[German colonial empire|German colony]], [[League of Nations mandate|mandate]] became a French colony) (now [[Togo]])
* [[Nigeria]]
** The [[Enclaves of Forcados and Badjibo]] (territory under a lease of 30 years) (1900–1927)
** [[Muri, Nigeria|The Emirate of Muri]] (Northeast of [[Nigeria]]) (1892–1893)
* [[Gambia]]
** [[Albreda]] (1681–1857)
** [[Kunta Kinteh Island]] (1695–1697, 1702)
===[[French Equatorial Africa]]===
=== ===
*[[Comoros]]—2nd
*[[Madagascar]]—2nd
*[[Mauritius]]—1st
*[[Mayotte]]—2nd & now
*[[Réunion]]—1st, 2nd, & now
*[[Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean]]—2nd & now
*[[Seychelles]]—1st
*[[Tanzania]] ([[Zanzibar]], briefly)—2nd
===Red Sea===
* [[Chad]] (1900–1960)
*[[Djibouti]] (as French Somaliland)—2nd
* [[Oubangui-Chari]] (currently [[Central African Republic]]) (1905–1960)
*[[Yemen]] ([[Cheikh Saïd]] peninsula)
** [[Dar al Kuti]] (protectorate) (1897) (in 1912 its sultanate was suppressed by the French)
** Sultanate of [[Bangassou]] (protectorate) (1894)
* Present-day [[The Republic of Congo]], then [[French Congo]] (1875–1960)
* [[Gabon]] (1839–1960)
* [[French Cameroon]] (91% of current [[Cameroon]]) (1918–1960) (formerly a [[German colonial empire|German colony]], [[League of Nations mandate|Mandate]], [[United Nations trust territories|Trust Territory]])
* [[São Tomé and Príncipe]] (1709)
==Asia==
===East Africa and Indian Ocean===
===Middle East===
*[[Lebanon]]—2nd
*[[Syria]]—2nd
*[[Turkey]] (Sanjak of Alexandretta, now called [[Hatay Province]])—2nd
===South Asia===
* [[Madagascar]] (1896–1960)
*[[India]]
** Kingdom of [[Imerina]] (protectorate) (1896)
**half of India (see [[French India]])—1st
* [[Isle de France (Mauritius)|Isle de France]] (1715–1810) (now [[Mauritius]])
**only [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondicherry]], [[Karikal]], [[Yanam, French India|Yanaon]], [[Mahé, India|Mahé]], and [[Chandernagore]]—2nd
* [[Djibouti]] ([[French Somaliland]]) (the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas) ([[French Somalia]]) (1862–1977)
* [[Mayotte]] (1841–present)
* [[Seychelles]] (1756–1810)
* [[Chagos Archipelago]] (1721–1745, 1768–1814)
* The [[Scattered Islands]] ([[Banc du Geyser]], [[Bassas da India]], [[Europa Island]], [[Juan de Nova Island]], [[Glorioso Islands]], [[Tromelin Island]])
* [[Comoros]] (1866–1975)
* [[Réunion]] (1710–present)
==In Asia==
== Asia==
*[[China]]
{{more citations needed section|date=March 2018}}
**[[Kwang-Chou-Wan]] leased territory, now the city of [[Zhanjiang]] ([[Guangdong]] province)—2nd
**French [[Concession (territory)|concessions]] in [[Shanghai French Concession|Shanghai]], [[Guangzhou]], [[Tianjin]], and [[Hankou]]—2nd
**French sphere of influence recognized by China over the provinces of [[Yunnan]], [[Guangxi]], [[Hainan]], and [[Guangdong]]—2nd
===South East Asia===
[[File:Map of the french possession in Asia throughout history.png|thumb|Map of territories that have been French in Asia throughout history]]
*[[Cambodia]]—2nd
*[[Laos]]—2nd
*[[Vietnam]] (as [[Tonkin]], [[Annam (French colony)|Annam]], and [[Cochinchina]])—2nd
*Eastern [[Thailand]] under French Sphere of Influence—2nd
==Oceania==
* [[French Indochina]]
*[[Clipperton Island|Clipperton]]—2nd & now
**[[French Indochinese Union]] (1887–1954)
*[[New Caledonia]]—2nd & now
***[[French Protectorate of Cambodia|Cambodia (protectorate)]] (1863–1953)
*[[French Polynesia]]—2nd & now
***[[French Protectorate of Laos|Laos (protectorate)]] (1893–1953)
*[[Vanuatu]] ([[Condominium (international law)|condominium]] shared with the [[British Empire]])—2nd
***[[Vietnam]]
*[[Wallis and Futuna]]—2nd & now
****[[French Cochinchina|Cochinchina]] (Southern Vietnam) (1862–1949)
**** [[Annam (French protectorate)|Annam (protectorate)]] (Central Vietnam) (1883–1945)
**** [[Tonkin (French protectorate)|Tonkin (protectorate)]] (Northern Vietnam) (1884–1945)
**** [[State of Vietnam]] (1949–1954)
**** [[Spratly Islands]] (1933–1939)
**** [[Paracel Islands]] (1933–1939)
***Some territories in the eastern part of [[Thailand]] (independent state, but after [[Franco-Siamese conflict of 1893]], Thailand has lost 3 provinces during the next 15 years)
**** [[Chanthaburi Province]] (1893-1904)
**** [[Trat Province]] (1904-1907)
**** [[File:French Indochina 1900-1946-es.svg|thumb|Former French colonies in Southeast Asia.]][[Dan Sai District]] (in the area of the [[Loei Province]]: 1903-1907)
* India
** [[French Establishments of India]], composed of [[Pondicherry district|Pondichéry]] (1765–1954); [[Karikal]] (1725–1954); [[Mahé, India|Mahé]] (1721–1954) [[Yanam, French India|Yanaon]] (1723–1954); [[Chandannagar]] (1673–1952)
* [[China]]
** The territory of [[Kouang-Tchéou-Wan]], a dependency of [[French Indochina]] (1898–1945)
* [[Syria]] or [[French Syria]] (1920–1946) ([[French Mandate of Syria]])
==In Oceania==
== ==
*[[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]]—2nd & now
* [[French Polynesia]]
** [[Society Islands]] (became a French protectorate in 1843 and a colony in 1880)
*** [[Otaheiti]], known as Tahiti (protectorate) (1842–1880)
*** [[Raiatea]] and [[Tahaa]] (protectorate) (1880)
** [[Tuamotu Archipelago]]
** [[Marquesas Islands]] (under French control in 1870, and later incorporated into the territory of [[French Polynesia]])
** [[Gambier Islands]]
*** [[Mangareva]] (protectorate) (1844/1871)
** [[Austral Islands]]
*** [[Rurutu (Austral Islands)]] (protectorate) (1858–1889)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tahitiheritage.pf/fiche-drapeau-de-rurutu-24163.htm|title=Drapeau de Rurutu – Tahiti Heritage|website=www.tahitiheritage.pf|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-date=10 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010032549/http://www.tahitiheritage.pf/fiche-drapeau-de-rurutu-24163.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Papua New Guinea]]
** [[New Ireland (island)|New Ireland]] (1880–1882) (attempt at colonization, unofficial)
* [[New Caledonia]] (1853-present)
* The [[New Hebrides]] ([[Vanuatu]])
** Anglo-French [[Condominium (international law)|condominium]] (1906–1980)
* Australia
** [[Dirk Hartog Island]] (1772) (made an unofficial annexation for all Australia)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.francedownunder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=134 |title=Consulter le sujet – L’Australie serait-elle française ?!… • [Forums |publisher=Francedownunder.com |access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author1=Godard, Philippe | author2=Kerros, Tugdual de | author3=Margot, Odette | author4=Stanbury, Myra | author5=Baxter, Sue | author6=Western Australian Museum | author7=Godard, Phillippe | author8=De Kerros, Tugdual | author9=Margot, Odette | author10=Stanbury, Myra | author11=Baxter, Sue | title=1772 : the French annexation of New Holland : the tale of Louis de Saint Aloürn | date=2008 | publisher=Western Australian Museum | isbn=978-1-920843-98-4 }}</ref><ref>Philippe Godard, Tugdual de Kerros 2002, “Louis de Saint Aloüarn, un marin breton à la conquête des terres australes”, Les Portes du large, Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande, 331-336</ref>
* [[Wallis and Futuna]] (1887–present)
==In Antarctica==
[[Image:Antarctica, France territorial claim.svg|thumb|right|Territory claim by France in Antarctic ([[Adélie Land]])]]
* [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]] ([[TAAF]])
** [[Crozet Islands]] (24 January 1772<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taaf.fr/spip/spip.php?article108 |title=TAAF |publisher=Taaf.fr |access-date=2012-01-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120224633/http://www.taaf.fr/spip/spip.php?article108 |archive-date=2012-01-20 }}</ref>– present)
** [[Kerguelen Islands]] (13 February 1772<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kerguelen-voyages.com/c/95/p/b0ef218cd2b18874c9a7d4b61925146f/Kerguelen-yves-tremarec-james-cook-asia-hillsborough-rhodes.html |title=Kerguelen – yves trémarec – james cook – asia – hillsborough – rhodes |publisher=Kerguelen-voyages.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002171809/http://www.kerguelen-voyages.com/c/95/p/b0ef218cd2b18874c9a7d4b61925146f/Kerguelen-yves-tremarec-james-cook-asia-hillsborough-rhodes.html |archive-date=2013-10-02 }}</ref>– present)
** [[Île Amsterdam]] (in 1843 but abandoned) (1892–present)
** [[Île Saint-Paul]] (in 1843 but abandoned) (1892–present)
** [[Adélie Land]] (1840–present) (sheltering one of two French Bases in Antarctica, the other one being Franco-Italian) (that borders with the [[Australian Antarctic Territory]] on both sides and divides that in two)
== See also ==
== See also ==
