French (1664-1760)
The French East India Company was founded in 1664 by Colbert and the first French factory in India was established at Surat by Francis Caron in 1668.
- Francis Martin founded and became 1st Governor of Pondicherry in 1673 - Later, Pondicherry became headquarters of France.
- The French had been involved in the politics of Deccan after its independence from the Mughals. Dupleix was very much vocal about his support to various Deccan regimes.
- The arrival of Dupleix as French governor in India in 1742 saw the beginning of Anglo-French conflict (Carnatic wars). Dupleix propounded the theory of interfering in the internal ....