Equinoctial France

France Équinoxiale was the temporary name that was given to Kolonialisationsversuchen France in the 17th century in South America. The name refers to the region of the Earth around the equator, as had " tropical" not won in that time, the term its modern meaning: equinoctial means in Latin " gleichnächtig ", ie equatorial, where days and nights are almost over the whole year of equal length.

The French colonial empire in the New World also included New France ( Nouvelle France ) in North America, mainly the current Canadian province of Québec and France Antarctique, today's Rio de Janeiro. All these settlements violate the Papal Bull of 1493, which divided the New World between Spain and Portugal. This division was later more precisely referred to as Treaty of Tordesillas.

The history of France Équinoxiale launched in 1612 as a French expedition departed from Cancale in Brittany. Under the leadership of Daniel de la Touche, Seigneur de la Ravardière, 500 settlers landed on the north coast of the Brazilian state of Maranhão today. De la Ravardière had discovered the region in 1604, but the death of the king had presented his plans to colonize the time being thwarted.

The colonists soon founded a settlement in honor of the French king Louis XIII. the name of Saint Louis received. In Portuguese was from the name later São Luís, the city was founded by the only French capital of the Brazilian state. On September 8, held Capuchin monks of the first mass, the soldiers began to build a fort An important difference between France Antarctique is the motivation; the former colony had been founded by religious refugees ( Protestants ).

The colony lasted not long, however. In the state of Pernambuco, an army was contracted, which struck the French settlers under the command of Alexandre de Moura and sales. This happened in 1615, less than four years after the arrival of the colonialists. In this sense, here the disaster was repeated, the 1567 struck the settlers in France Antarctique. In 1620 there were numerous Portuguese and Brazilian colonists to São Luís, which slowly began to grow. The industry was mainly based on sugar cane and slavery.

French traders and settlers attempted in 1626, 1635 and 1643 to build a new France Équinoxiale, where nowadays French Guiana is located. Twice a Compagnie de la France Équinoxiale was founded (1643 and 1645 ), but both attempts ended in disasters. It was only after 1674 succeeded under the direct control of the French crown and a competent governor permanent foothold in South America. To this day, French Guiana is part of France.