Company of equinoctial France
The Compagnie of equinoctial France is a commercial company created in August 1663 after the failure of the Compagnie of Rouen.
Created with investing Paris with 20 shareholders: 20000 delivers S each one, it obtains a concession to explore the northern coast of the South America between the Orénoque and the the Amazon; one names as governor Antoine Lefebvre of the Bar, which becomes later governor of Guyana.
The ships Brézé and Terrou raise anchors La Rochelle for Cayenne on February 26th, 1664 1 with 400 men on board. They arrive there the May 11th.
The Guyana, then occupied by the Dutch, is given again in France when the forces Dutchwomen capitulate without fighting in front of those of general lieutenant Alexandre de Prouville de Tracy. The situation of the colonists had improved during the domination Dutchwoman, but the new colonists did not find it satisfactory. They asked to be repatriated, in France or at least with the islands of the Hello. Those which remain install with Cayenne, Matoury and Sinnamary.
The Company of the Western Indies, created the same year, sends 160 men to Cayenne in February 1665. The colony counts then: 1060 men, 40 white women and 200 slaves. Forts are created on Caourou close to Kourou, with Sinnamary and Camoripo (today the Money Mountain).
A war bursts between the English and the Netherlanders, the English decide to try to take possession of Surinam, Dutch territory, as well as Guyana, in the east. They seize the fort of Cépérou to Cayenne in 1667 and the Company goes bankrupt. The war finishes on July 31st with the signature of the Paix of Breda, but Guyana knows it only on October 18th.
Appendices
Related articles
Sources
- Bernard Montabo; the Large book of the history of Guyana. Volume I: Origins with 1848 ; Collection the Large Book; Orphie editions, 2004. Pages 61-65.