ESTABLISHMENT OF FRENCH SUPREMACY IN PONDICHERRY
The French were the last to come to India. “Nevertheless, though late in joining the race, the might and main of the nation and the genius of the French men swiftly enabled them to move abreast with the most securely planted of their European rivals”. It is said that the first French expedition to India took place during the reign of Francis I (1515-1547). In July 1527 A.D, about thirty years after Vasco da Gama had set his foot on Calicut, a Norman ship belonging to the Rouen merchants appeared at Diu. No expedition was undertaken after this for nearly three-quarters of a century, in spite of the Decress of Kings, Francois I in 1537 A.D and Henry III in 1578 A.D, exhorting the people to undertake voyages of long distances. Francois Martin expanded French trade to Bengal, Orissa, Kerala, and other areas of Tamil Nadu by obtaining the village of Kaveripumpattinam and concession for doing business in Karaikal.
Pondicherry, Francois Martin, French, Dutch