The Country the Sun Never Sets On: Dependent Territories Worldwide (1) Overview: https://www.fmkorea.com/9159774099 The Country the Sun Never Sets On: Dependent Territories Worldwide (2) UK’s Dependent Territories: https://www.fmkorea.com/9190219113
France previously built vast colonies across the globe. While most of France’s colonies gained independence, dependent territories still exist outside of Metropolitan France’s regions (régions), meaning the sun still hasn't set on France even today. France's dependent territories are called Overseas France (France d'outre-mer) and are classified as Overseas Regions, Overseas Collectivities, Special Collectivities, Overseas Territories, and National Assets. In this article, we will classify France's dependent territories by type and explore their etymology and history. [1] Overseas Regions (Régions D'outre-Mer, ROM) France’s Overseas Regions hold the same status as mainland regions, are considered integral parts of France, and have representation in both the French National Assembly (Assemblée nationale, lower house) and the Senate (Sénat, upper house). They are also recognized as Outermost Regions (ORs) of the European Union (EU), meaning EU law applies and the Euro is used, but the Schengen Agreement does not apply.
1) Guadeloupe (Guadeloupe (French)/Gwadloup (Guadeloupean Creole))
Official flag of Guadeloupe (left), unofficial flag (center), logo (right)
Location of Guadeloupe Guadeloupe's name originates from the Spanish explorer Cristóbal Colón (1451-1506; better known as 'Christopher Columbus'), who landed in the area on November 4, 1493, and named the region 'Guadalupe' after the Virgin of Guadalupe (Nuestra Señora Santa María de Guadalupe)*, the patron saint of his sailors. *This is the image of the Virgin enshrined in the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, Spain. Guadalupe is named after the Guadalupe River (Guadalupejo), which flows through the Extremadura region of Spain, and the Guadalupe River may derive from the Arabic expression وادي اللب (wādī al-lubb, 'hidden river') or وادي الحب (wādī al-hubb, 'river of love'). Native Americans inhabited Guadeloupe, and Cristóbal Colón was the first European to land there in 1493. Spanish settlers arrived in the 16th century, but French explorer Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc (1585-1636) drove them out in 1626. France began establishing colonies in Guadeloupe starting in 1635, bringing French farmers. By 1650, they started plantation agriculture using enslaved people brought from Africa. However, a slave revolt occurred in Guadeloupe in 1656, and France could only properly govern the island by 1658, after which they managed sugarcane plantations through slave labor. Coffee cultivation began in the late 1720s, generating wealth, but Guadeloupe was occupied by British forces during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). Because Guadeloupe was so prosperous at the time, France ceded Canada to Britain in exchange for Guadeloupe under the Treaty of Paris signed after the Seven Years' War. Chaos erupted in Guadeloupe during the French Revolution; Britain occupied the island in 1794, but France soon retook it and abolished slavery. However, Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821), who seized power in France, sought to reintroduce slavery. Black officers, led by Louis Delgrès (1766-1802), revolted and effectively governed Guadeloupe, but Napoléon Bonaparte dispatched suppression forces in 1802. Louis Delgrès realized the battle of Matouba was hopeless and committed suicide. France reinstated slavery in Guadeloupe in 1803, and the rebellion against France lasted until 1804. Britain reoccupied Guadeloupe in 1810 and ceded it to Sweden in 1813, which returned it to France in 1814. Slavery was abolished in Guadeloupe in 1848, and contract laborers began arriving from India after 1854. Guadeloupe was initially controlled by Vichy France during World War II but joined Free France in 1943. Subsequently, Guadeloupe became a French overseas department (département d'outre mer) in 1946 and was converted into a French Overseas Region in 1974. The Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (Union populaire pour la libération de la Guadeloupe, UPLG) fought for complete independence, and violence erupted in the 1980s due to the activities of groups like the Armed Liberation Group (Groupe de libération armée, GLA) and the Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance (Alliance révolutionnaire caraïbe, ARC). Guadeloupe was granted greater autonomy in 1982, achieved minimum wage parity with the mainland in 1996, and gained access to minimum income guarantee benefits (like the mainland) in 2002. In 2003, it was decided that Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy, which were under Guadeloupe's jurisdiction, would separate from Guadeloupe. They officially separated in 2007, remaining so today.
2) French Guiana (Guyane (French)/Lagwiyann (Guianan Creole))
From left to right: Official flag of French Guiana, unofficial flag (official from 2010–2015), coat of arms, logo
Location of French Guiana French Guiana refers to the French-controlled area within the Guiana region in northeastern South America. 'Guiana' means 'land of many waters,' and the region today consists of French Guiana, Guyana (formerly British Guiana), Suriname (formerly Dutch Guiana), Venezuela's Guayana region (formerly Spanish Guiana), and Brazil's Amapá region (formerly Portuguese Guiana). Native Americans lived in the area, and Spanish explorer Cristóbal Colón (1451-1506; better known as 'Christopher Columbus') was the first European to discover the region in 1498. The Grand Duchy of Tuscany sent an expedition in 1608, but it was halted when Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici (1549-1609) died suddenly. France attempted settlement in 1624 but failed due to Portuguese opposition. They tried again in 1630 and built a settlement in Cayenne in 1643, which failed due to attacks by Native Americans. The Dutch West India Company established a settlement in 1658, and France also built a new settlement in 1664. France partitioned Guiana with England and the Netherlands in 1667. France tried to establish a colony in 1763 but failed due to tropical diseases, harsh climate, and hostile indigenous presence. Starting in 1803, French Guiana was developed as a penal colony, forcing convicts from Metropolitan France into labor. During the Napoleonic Wars, Portugal occupied the region in 1809, returning it to France in 1814, though they maintained troops until 1817. France used African slaves to establish plantations along rivers (where tropical diseases were less prevalent), growing sugar, cayenne pepper, and spices. When slavery was abolished in 1848, the freed slaves fled into the rainforest. France began sending convicts to prisons here in 1852. Gold discovered inland in the 1850s triggered a border dispute between French Guiana and Brazil. A pro-French independent state, the Independent Republic of Guiana (République de la Guyane Indépendante, also known as 'Counani'), existed in the disputed area from 1886 to 1891, but the conflict was resolved favorably for Brazil through Swiss government arbitration. A border dispute between French Guiana and Dutch Guiana (now Suriname) also occurred from 1861, resolved in 1891 through the mediation of Tsar Alexander III of the Russian Empire, concluding somewhat favorably for the Netherlands. In 1902, the eruption of Montagne Pelée in Martinique led many residents to seek refuge in French Guiana, and a gold rush took place there between 1910 and 1930. After WWII broke out, French Guiana was under Vichy France until it joined Free France on March 16, 1943. It became a French overseas department (département d'outre mer) in 1946. The penal colony was officially abolished and the transfer of convicts halted in 1938, but it was not fully closed until 1953, as those incarcerated had to finish their sentences, and only those who could afford passage back to France were able to return. After Algeria, where France had its rocket launch base, gained independence in 1962, France began construction of a space center in Kourou, French Guiana, starting in 1964 and completing it in 1968. In the 1970s, Hmong refugees fleeing the communist takeover of Laos settled in French Guiana, and in the 1980s, refugees fleeing the Surinamese Interior War settled there as well. Economic growth driven by the Guiana Space Centre occurred from the 1960s to the 2000s, but the economy stagnated starting in the 2010s, leading to the largest protests in French Guiana's history in 2017.
3) Réunion (La Réunion)
From left to right: Official flag of Réunion, unofficial flag, coat of arms, logo
Location of Réunion Réunion originally means 'meeting' or 'assembly' in French, presumably chosen to commemorate the 'assembly' of the Marseilles volunteers (fédérés de Marseille) and the National Guard (Garde nationale) prior to the August 10, 1792 Insurrection (Journée du 10 août 1792)*. *An event during the French Revolution on August 10, 1792, where Sans-culottes and Republican National Guards stormed the Tuileries Palace, interning Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in the Temple Tower and suspending the monarchy. The island was first discovered in 1507 by Portuguese explorer Diogo Fernandes Pereira (?-?) and named Santa Apolônia after Saint Apollonia (?-249). France began claiming sovereignty over Santa Apolônia in 1638, renamed it Île Bourbon (Bourbon Island) in 1649 after the Bourbon monarchy, and colonization began in 1665. French colonists developed a plantation economy in Bourbon Island based on slave labor, growing coffee and sugarcane, with enslaved people mainly sourced from East Africa. After the French Revolution, Bourbon Island was renamed Réunion on March 19, 1793. In 1806, it was renamed Île Bonaparte (Bonaparte Island) after Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821). During the Napoleonic Wars, Bonaparte Island was invaded and controlled by Britain in 1810. After the Bourbon monarchy returned, Bonaparte Island was returned to France in 1814 and renamed Île Bourbon. With the French Revolution of 1848 overthrowing the July Monarchy, Bourbon Island was once again renamed Réunion, and slavery was abolished there on December 20 of the same year. After abolition, contract laborers arrived from places like India. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 reduced Réunion's importance as a stopover on the East India trade route. The Réunion economy faced a crisis starting in the 1870s as Europe began relying on sugar beets to meet sugar demand, but large-scale construction projects like road networks, railways, and ports were carried out on the island. During World War II, Réunion fell under Vichy France until Free France sent a destroyer to capture it in 1942. Réunion became a French overseas department (département d'outre mer) in 1946. From 1963 to 1982, 1,630 children from Réunion were forcibly relocated to rural areas of mainland France (especially Creuse) under the guise of boosting the mainland's population. In 1983, Réunion was converted into a French Overseas Region, and starting in the 1990s, its traditional sugar-centric economy shifted toward service and tourism, remaining so today.
4) Martinique
Flag/Logo of Martinique. The coat of arms was not confirmed.
Location of Martinique There are several theories regarding the etymology of Martinique: i) Taíno Matinino (the mythical island where only women live) - Cristóbal Colón (1451-1506; better known as 'Christopher Columbus') is said to have translated this to Isla de las mujeres (Island of Women) based on the myth. ii) Derived from the Taíno Madiana/Madinina ('Island of Flowers') Native Americans lived on Martinique. Cristóbal Colón was the first European to discover and chart Martinique in 1493, and he landed there in 1502. Spain governed Martinique before ceding it to France in 1635. French explorer Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc (1585-1636) built the settlement of Fort Saint-Pierre with French settlers. Native Americans revolted in 1636, driving out French settlers, but France soon defeated the indigenous people. When the indigenous people revolted again in 1658, France massacred or expelled them. In 1664, Martinique came under the French West India Company's jurisdiction, and when the company was dissolved in 1674, the French government took direct control. Martinique was attacked by Britain in 1693, 1759, and 1762. Britain briefly occupied Martinique between 1762 and 1763 and attacked it again in 1779. Martinique was occupied by Britain in 1794, retaken by France in 1802, and occupied by Britain again in 1809 before being ceded back to France in 1815 after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Slave revolts occurred in 1789, 1815, and 1822. Due to abolitionist campaigns, slavery in Martinique was abolished in 1848, leading some planters to bring in contract laborers from China and India. In 1902, Montagne Pelée erupted, resulting in a disaster where over 30,000 people, including Governor Louis Mouttet (1857-1902) and his wife, died due to his complacent handling despite warnings and evacuation recommendations from scholars and prior signs of eruption. Saint-Pierre, the center of Martinique before the eruption, was completely destroyed, and the island's capital moved to Fort-de-France. During WWII, Martinique was under Vichy France and served as a supply base for German submarines until Free France occupied it in 1943. Martinique became a French overseas department (département d'outre mer) in 1946, and movements demanding complete independence spread from the 1950s to the 1960s. However, the independence movement lost momentum as Martinique's economy stagnated in the 1970s. France granted Martinique greater autonomy throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, Martinique was designated a French Overseas Region, and in 2023, the flag of the Martinique National Liberation Front (Front National de Libération de la Martinique) was designated as Martinique's official symbol.
5) Mayotte
Official flag of Mayotte (left), coat of arms (center), logo (right)
Location of Mayotte Mayotte derives from the Arabic expression جزيرة الموت (Jazirat al Mawet, 'Island of Death'), which changed to the Swahili Maouti > Portuguese Mayotta > French Mayotte. Mayotte seems to have been inhabited since the 8th century, mixing Austronesian and Bantu African peoples. Mayotte was later Islamized by Arabs. Slavery began in the 12th century, and the Shirazi Sultanate was established around 1470, solidifying the Shafi'i branch of Sunni Islam. Among Europeans, Portuguese explorers first discovered Mayotte in 1503, naming it 'Espirito Santo' (Holy Spirit), but did not colonize it. Mayotte developed slower than the other Comoro Islands and suffered invasions from pirates, Malagasy people (Madagascar residents), and Comorians. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Mayotte was ruled by a merchant family claiming Omani descent, and the Mayotte sultans established ties with the Sultanate of Ndzuwani Island. After the last Shirazi Sultan of Mayotte was assassinated in 1829, his son sought help from Andriantsoly (?-1847), a Madagascar warlord with whom they had an alliance treaty. Andriantsoly expelled the son of the last Shirazi Sultan who sought his help in 1832 and became the Sultan of Mayotte, but plagued by invasions from neighboring sultanates, he sold Mayotte to France in 1841. After annexing Mayotte, France abolished slavery and imported contract laborers, intending to make Mayotte a sugar production base, but sugar production quickly ceased due to the sugar crisis of 1883-1885. Following the Berlin Conference, France took control of the entire Comoro Islands in 1886, ruling them as the Colony of Mayotte and Dependencies (Colonie de Mayotte et dépendances), and from 1896 to 1899, they were under Réunion. 1898 was the worst year in Mayotte's history, with two consecutive cyclones nearly destroying homes and sugarcane plantations, followed by earthquakes and smallpox, leading to population decline and crop damage. France relocated laborers from Comoros, Madagascar, and Mozambique to Mayotte, encouraging the cultivation of vanilla, coffee, copra, and plants used for fragrances (vetiver, lemongrass, sandalwood, ylang-ylang) instead of sugarcane. The Comoro Islands, including Mayotte, became part of the Colony of Madagascar and Dependencies (Colonie de Madagascar et dépendances) in 1912. After WWII, in 1946, the Comoro Islands, including Mayotte, separated from the Madagascar colony and became the Territory of the Comoros (Territoire des Comores), a French overseas territory. A referendum for the independence of the Comoro Islands was held in 1974. While the other islands (Ndzuwani, Ngazidja, Mwali) all voted for independence and became independent in 1975, Mayotte voted against it. The newly independent Comoros claimed sovereignty over Mayotte, and a subsequent referendum held in Mayotte in 1976 also decided against independence, opting to remain with France. Furthermore, as a result of a 2009 referendum, Mayotte became a French overseas department (département d'outre mer) starting in 2011, and joined the EU in 2014. Although a regional council has not been established in Mayotte, meaning it is not formally an Overseas Region, it is treated as one. Regarding this, legislation was drafted in late 2021 to make Mayotte an Overseas Region under the same standards as French Guiana and Martinique, and Mayotte is scheduled to formally become an Overseas Region no later than January 2026.
[2] Overseas Collectivities (Collectivité d'outre-Mer, COM) France’s Overseas Collectivities have seats in the French National Assembly (lower house) and the Senate (upper house). They possess their own legal systems and have varying statuses regarding the EU.
Flag/Coat of Arms of French Polynesia
Location of French Polynesia French Polynesia means 'French-controlled' region in 'Polynesia' ('many islands'). It consists primarily of the Society Islands (Îles de la Société/Tōtaiete mā), the Tuamotu Islands (Îles Tuamotu/Tuamotus/Paumotus), the Gambier Islands (Îles Gambier), the Marquesas Islands (Îles Marquises/Te Fenua ʻEnata/Te Henua Enana), and the Austral Islands (Îles Australes/Tuha'a Pae). Austronesian peoples began migrating to Polynesia around 1500 BCE. Settlers first arrived in the Marquesas Islands around 200 BCE, and Polynesians discovered the Society Islands around 300 CE. The Spanish explorer Fernando de Magallanes (1480-1521; commonly known as Ferdinand Magellan), of Portuguese origin, was the first European to discover the region in 1521. Pedro Fernández de Quirós (1565-1614), another Spanish explorer of Portuguese origin, discovered inhabited islands in the region in 1606. In 1722, Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen (1659-1729) first mapped the locations of two islands in the Society Islands and six islands in the Tuamotus. British explorer Samuel Wallis (1728-1795) first visited the island of Tahiti in the Society Islands in 1767, followed by French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville (1729-1811) in 1768, and British explorer James Cook (1728-1779) in 1769. Spanish explorer Domingo de Bonechea (1713-1775) explored all the major islands in the region except Tahiti in 1772, and a Spanish settlement was created in 1774 but did not last long. British Protestant missionaries settled in the area in 1797. King Pōmare II (1782?-1821) of the Kingdom of Tahiti converted to Protestantism in 1812 following contact with the British. France sent Catholic missionaries to Tahiti in 1834, but when they were expelled in 1836, France dispatched a warship in 1838. In 1842, France declared Tahiti and Tauhata Islands a protectorate under the guise of protecting the missionaries. King Pōmare V (1839-1891) of the Kingdom of Tahiti ceded the kingdom to France in 1880, leading France to establish a colony centered on Tahiti called the Establishments of Oceania (Établissements de l'Océanie). After annexing Tahiti, France gradually annexed surrounding islands, including Raiatea, Rimatara, and Rurutu, until 1901. In 1903, the colony's name was changed to French Establishments in Oceania (Établissements Français de l'Océanie). During WWII in 1940, French Oceania joined Free France, and although the Japanese Empire claimed sovereignty, no actual invasion occurred. In 1946, residents of French Oceania were granted French citizenship, and its legal status changed from a colony to an overseas territory, renamed French Polynesia in 1957. After Algeria gained independence from France in 1962, French Polynesia was selected as France's new nuclear testing site. A total of 46 atmospheric nuclear tests were conducted from 1966 to 1974, followed by over 150 underground tests from 1974 until 1996. French Polynesia was granted partial internal self-governance in 1977, and autonomy was expanded in 1984. In 2003, French Polynesia became a French Overseas Collectivity. It is not considered part of the EU and uses the CFP franc (Polynesia).
2) Saint-Barthélemy
Official flag of Saint-Barthélemy (left), unofficial flag (center), coat of arms (right)
Location of Saint-Barthélemy Saint-Barthélemy is the French expression for 'Saint Bartholomew' (Sanctus Bartholomaeus). Cristóbal Colón (1451-1506; better known as 'Christopher Columbus') named the region in 1493 after his brother, Bartolomé Colón (1461?-1514; better known as 'Bartholomew Columbus'). Native Americans likely visited Saint-Barthélemy frequently, but due to a lack of fresh water and poor soil, it is believed there were no permanent settlers. French settlers, led by Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy (1584-1660), Deputy Governor of the French West India Company, began settling Saint-Barthélemy in 1648, but the settlement was temporarily abandoned in 1656 after an attack by Native Americans. Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy was also a Knight of Malta, and under his initiative, Saint-Barthélemy briefly became the property of the Order of Malta, but the French West India Company reacquired it in 1665. When the French West India Company was dissolved in 1674, Saint-Barthélemy became part of France and was incorporated into Guadeloupe. In the 18th century, Saint-Barthélemy did not develop economically and became a haven for pirates. It was occupied by British forces in 1744 but returned to France in 1764. France undervalued Saint-Barthélemy, selling it to Sweden in 1784 in exchange for trade privileges in Gothenburg. Sweden built Gustavia, named after King Gustav III (1746-1792), and made it a free port, introducing slavery in Saint-Barthélemy in 1787. Britain attacked and occupied Saint-Barthélemy from 1801 to 1802. In 1812, the Swedish Parliament transferred Saint-Barthélemy to the King's private property. In the mid-1840s, Saint-Barthélemy was reorganized from royal private property to national assets, and slavery was abolished in 1847. A hurricane struck Saint-Barthélemy in 1850, followed by a fire in 1852, depleting resources and commercial viability. Eventually, Sweden sold Saint-Barthélemy back to France in 1878, and France governed it as part of Guadeloupe. Saint-Barthélemy, along with Saint-Martin, was incorporated into the Guadeloupe department in 1946. Tourism began seriously in the 1960s, and it became famous as a luxury resort destination from the 1970s onwards. Saint-Barthélemy separated from Guadeloupe to become an autonomous Overseas Collectivity in 2007. Since 2012, it has been an Overseas Country or Territory (not part of the EU) but uses the Euro.
3) Saint-Martin
Flag (left), coat of arms (center), logo (right) of Saint-Martin
Location of Saint-Martin Saint-Martin occupies the northern part of Saint Martin Island, while the southern part is Sint Maarten, a dependent territory of the Netherlands. Saint-Martin is the French expression for 'Saint Martinus.' Cristóbal Colón (1451-1506; better known as 'Christopher Columbus') discovered Saint Martin Island on November 11, 1493, the feast day of 'Saint Martin of Tours (Sanctus Martinus Turonensis),' hence the name. Native Americans inhabited Saint Martin Island. Cristóbal Colón’s discovery in 1493 nominally made it Spanish territory. Later, France and the Netherlands grew interested in the island, and the Native American population drastically declined due to European diseases. In 1631, the Netherlands built Fort Amsterdam on Saint Martin Island and began salt mining, but Spain drove out the Dutch in 1633. Spain repelled a Dutch attempt to retake the island in 1644 but abandoned its sovereignty claim after the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). France and the Netherlands began settling Saint Martin Island. Instead of fighting over total sovereignty, they signed the Treaty of Concordia (Traité de Concordia/Verdrag van Concordia) in 1648 to partition the island. In the 18th century, France used African slaves to operate sugarcane, tobacco, and cotton plantations in Saint-Martin, and administratively merged Saint-Martin with Guadeloupe in 1763. When France occupied the Netherlands and established the Batavian Republic puppet state in 1795, the entire island of Saint Martin came under French control. During the Napoleonic Wars in 1810, Britain occupied Saint Martin Island. The northern part was returned to France in 1815, becoming Saint-Martin. The French-Dutch border on Saint Martin Island was finalized in 1817. In 1839, France and the Netherlands reaffirmed the Treaty of Concordia, agreeing on shared hunting, fishing, joint operation of salt pans, and extradition of criminals. France abolished slavery in Saint-Martin in 1848. The economy stagnated until the early 20th century, leading many young people to leave for work in Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the mainland U.S. Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten were designated a duty-free port in 1939. In 1946, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy were incorporated into the Guadeloupe department, and tourism grew in the 1970s. Saint-Martin separated from Guadeloupe in 2007 to become an autonomous Overseas Collectivity. Today, it is part of the EU's Outermost Regions and uses the Euro.
4) Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon
Official flag of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (left), unofficial flag (center), coat of arms (right)
Location of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon consists of eight islands, including Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Saint Pierre is French for 'Saint Peter' (Sanctus Petrus), a name given by French explorer Jacques Cartier (1491-1557) when he visited in 1536. Miquelon is thought to be a French adaptation of Mikelon, the Basque variation of the male name Michael. Artifacts suggest Canadian Indigenous groups, like the Beothuk, visited Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon in prehistoric times, but there is no evidence of permanent settlement before the arrival of Europeans. The Portuguese explorer João Álvares Fagundes (1460?-1522) was the first European to land in the area on October 21, 1520, naming it 'ilhas das Onze Mil Virgens' (Islands of the Eleven Thousand Virgins), as October 21 was the feast day of Saint Ursula (?-383?) and her Virgin companions (traditionally 11,000). French explorer Jacques Cartier claimed the area for France in 1536. Basque/Breton fishermen and Mi'kmaq Native Americans occasionally visited but did not settle permanently. The region officially became French territory in 1670, named 'Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon,' and settlers began to reside there. During the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession, Britain attacked the French settlement of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. As a result of the Treaty of Utrecht ending the War of the Spanish Succession, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon was ceded to Britain and named Saint Peter's Colony. After the Seven Years' War, the Treaty of Paris in 1763 ceded all of New France to Britain and Spain, but Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon was returned to France. When France entered the American War of Independence, Britain attacked Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, burned all the settlements, and forcibly deported the residents back to France. In 1793, Britain occupied it and rebuilt Saint Peter's Colony. France used a naval fleet to burn the Saint Peter's Colony settlements in 1796. The Treaty of Amiens in 1802 returned Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to French rule. However, when the Napoleonic Wars broke out in 1803, Britain recaptured Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. It was returned to France in 1814, only to be briefly occupied by Britain again in 1815. Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon was definitively returned to France in 1816 and resettled by people from the Brittany, Normandy, and Basque regions of France. In 1903, the U.S. attempted to purchase Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon from France but failed. In the 1910s, fishing profitability declined, and many residents were conscripted for WWI, paralyzing the fishing industry. However, when Prohibition was enacted in the U.S. in 1920, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon boomed as a hub for smuggling alcohol from Canada to the U.S. The boom ended when Prohibition was repealed in 1933. During WWII, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon was initially under Vichy France until Free France seized it on December 24, 1941. Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon became a French overseas territory (territoire d'outre-mer) in 1946, and then a French overseas department (département d'outre mer) in 1976. It was converted into a territorial collectivity (collectivité territoriale) in 1985, and finally into a French Overseas Collectivity in 2003, remaining so today. It is not considered part of the EU but uses the Euro.
5) Wallis and Futuna (Wallis-et-Futuna)
Official flag of Wallis and Futuna (left), unofficial flag (center), coat of arms (right)
Location of Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna consists of Wallis, Futuna, Alofi, and 20 other uninhabited islets. Wallis is named after British explorer Samuel Wallis (1728-1795), who visited the island in 1767. Futuna derives from *futu*, a poisonous tree native to the region. Although *futuna* is usually read closer to 'Fuytina' in French, in this case, it is pronounced closer to 'Futuna.' Wallis and Futuna has been inhabited since between 850 BCE and 800 BCE, serving as a stopover for maritime traffic between Fiji and Samoa. Tonga invaded Wallis and Futuna in the 15th and 16th centuries. Residents resisted the invasion but also experienced various levels of assimilation. Futuna Island was first discovered by European explorers, the Dutch Willem Schouten (1567?-1625) and Jacob Le Maire (1585?-1616), in 1616. They named it 'Hoornse Eylanden' (Hoorn Islands) after their hometown. Wallis Island was discovered and named after British explorer Samuel Wallis in 1767. France sent Catholic missionaries to Wallis and Futuna in 1837, converting the population to Catholicism. When some residents revolted in 1842, the missionaries requested French protection. Subsequently, the Uvea Kingdom (governing Wallis) became a French protectorate in 1887, followed by the Sigavé Kingdom (governing the western one-third of Futuna) and the Alo Kingdom (governing the eastern two-thirds of Futuna and Alofi Island) in 1888. In 1917, the Uvea, Sigavé, and Alo Kingdoms were annexed by France and incorporated into the Wallis and Futuna Colony, placed under the administration of New Caledonia (Nouvelle-Calédonie). During WWII, Wallis and Futuna was under Vichy France until a Free French corvette from New Caledonia brought it under Free France control in 1942. In 1959, a referendum decided to separate from New Caledonia. Consequently, since 1961, it has been a separate Overseas Collectivity, remaining so today. Wallis and Futuna is not considered part of the EU and uses the CFP franc (Polynesia).
[3] Special Collectivity (Collectivité Sui Generis) France's Special Collectivity consists only of New Caledonia (Nouvelle-Calédonie), which has seats in the French National Assembly (lower house) and the Senate (upper house). It enjoys broad autonomy, possessing its own military and citizenship, having its own head of government besides the High Commissioner appointed by the French President. It is not considered part of the EU and uses the CFP franc (Polynesia).
The French flag and the Kanak flag (drapeau kanak) used jointly in New Caledonia, and the New Caledonia coat of arms
Location of New Caledonia Nouvelle-Calédonie is the French expression for 'New (Nouvelle)' 'Caledonia (Calédonie).' Caledonia was the name used by Romans for Scotland. The Lapita people inhabited the area from around 1300 BCE to 200 BCE, and the Kanak people lived in clan societies from the 2nd century CE until the 18th century. British explorer James Cook (1728-1779) was the first European to discover the region in 1774, naming it New Caledonia because its northeast coast reminded him of Scotland. France later took possession, resulting in the current name. Following Cook, European and American whalers and missionaries visited the region. Sandalwood trade briefly flourished but soon declined, giving way to blackbirding (the kidnapping and enslavement of indigenous people). By order of Napoléon III (1808-1873), French Admiral Auguste Febvrier Despointes (1796-1855) formally claimed New Caledonia in 1853, and Captain Louis-Marie-François Tardy de Montravel (1811-1864) founded Port-de-France (now Nouméa) in 1854. France made New Caledonia a penal colony in 1864, transporting about 22,000 convicts (including political prisoners) there until 1897. Nickel was discovered in New Caledonia in 1864. Systematic mining began with the establishment of a nickel company in 1876, employing contract laborers from neighboring islands, the New Hebrides, Japan, Dutch East Indies, and French Indochina. Native Kanak people suffered high mortality rates from diseases introduced by Europeans, such as smallpox and measles, and were excluded from the French economy and mine labor. They revolted but were suppressed. During WWII, New Caledonia quickly joined Free France, and colonial officials who wanted to join Vichy France were expelled to French Indochina. In 1941, about 300 men from New Caledonia, along with a small number of men from French Polynesia and the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), formed the Pacific Battalion, which was deployed to North Africa and Italy. In 1942, with Australian support, New Caledonia became a major Allied base in the South Pacific, and the U.S. Navy’s South Pacific Fleet was headquartered in Nouméa, the capital. New Caledonia became a French overseas territory (territoire d'outre-mer) in 1946, and all New Caledonians, regardless of ethnicity, were granted French citizenship in 1953. After WWII, New Caledonia enjoyed a nickel boom until the early 1980s, becoming the world's third-largest nickel producer. The economy rapidly grew, attracting new immigrants. In the 1980s, tensions between pro-independence and anti-independence factions peaked. Violence occurred during the 'Political Events of 1984 to 1988 in New Caledonia,' resulting in 90 casualties. The violence climaxed with the Ouvéa cave hostage taking (Prise d'otages d'Ouvéa) in 1988. The Matignon Agreements were signed on June 26, 1988, stipulating a 10-year transition period followed by an independence referendum. On May 5, 1998, the Nouméa Accord was signed, further expanding New Caledonia's autonomy, postponing the independence referendum to between 2014 and 2018, and allowing for up to two additional referendums. The first referendum was held on November 4, 2018, with 56.7% voting against independence. The second was held on October 4, 2020, with 53.4% voting against independence. The third referendum was held on December 12, 2021. Pro-independence forces boycotted the vote after the French government refused their demand to postpone it due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, 96% voted against independence, keeping New Caledonia within France. In May 2024, riots erupted in New Caledonia over proposed electoral reforms. The electoral reform proposal was withdrawn in October 2024, and the riots were suppressed in December 2024. On July 12, 2025, the French government and leaders of the pro- and anti-independence factions of New Caledonia signed the Bougival Agreement. The Bougival Agreement requires ratification by the French and New Caledonian legislatures, and approval via a New Caledonian referendum scheduled for February 2026. If this process is completed, New Caledonia will be reorganized into the State of New Caledonia (État de Nouvelle-Calédonie), as stipulated in the French constitution. New Caledonian residents will hold both French and New Caledonian citizenship, and the French government will transfer certain powers, including diplomatic rights, to New Caledonia.
[4] Overseas Territory (Territoire D'outre-Mer, TOM) France's Overseas Territory consists only of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises). This is an area with no permanent population; it has no representation in the French National Assembly (lower house) or the Senate (upper house) and is not considered part of the EU, but the Euro is used.
Flag/Coat of Arms of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Location of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands The French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) is an overseas territory combining French regions in the Southern Indian Ocean and the part of Antarctica claimed by France. It consists of the Crozet Islands, the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, the Kerguelen Islands, the Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands, and Adélie Land. The TAAF regions were discovered by European explorers—including Portuguese, British, French, and Dutch—from the 16th to the 19th centuries. France established sovereignty over the region in the late 19th century and incorporated it into the Colony of Madagascar and Dependencies and the Colony of Mayotte and Dependencies. British and American whalers operated in the area in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but whaling declined after 1911 due to a severe reduction in whale populations, the introduction of factory ships for onboard processing, and crucially, the replacement of whale oil by petroleum. Attempts were also made to utilize terrestrial natural resources such as guano and coconut, but all failed due to accessibility issues and harsh weather conditions. On August 6, 1955, the TAAF was reorganized into a new overseas territory directly administered by France, remaining so today.
1) Crozet Islands (Archipel Crozet)
Location of the Crozet Islands The Crozet Islands are divided into western and eastern groups, consisting of five regions: 1) West: Île aux Cochons ('Pig Island'), Île des Pingouins ('Penguin Island'), Îlots des Apôtres ('Islands of the Apostles'); 2) East: Île de la Possession ('Possession Island'), Île de l'Est ('East Island') French explorer Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne (1724-1772) discovered the Crozet Islands on January 24, 1772. His second-in-command was Julien-Marie Crozet (1728-1782). After Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne was killed by Māori people in New Zealand on June 12, 1772, Julien-Marie Crozet took command of the expedition. He met British explorer James Cook (1728-1779) in Cape Town in 1776. Julien-Marie Crozet shared his expedition's maps with James Cook, who, while sailing east, stopped at the islands discovered by Marion du Fresne and Crozet, naming the western islands Marion Island and the eastern islands Crozet Islands. Later, seal hunters visiting the islands began referring to all of them collectively as the Crozet Islands. Marion Island became the name for the larger of the Prince Edward Islands, discovered by the expedition led by Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne. Seals on the Crozet Islands were nearly extinct by around 1835. Whaling activities followed but did not last long, and the islands became uninhabited in the late 19th century. France established sovereignty over the Crozet Islands in 1923, managing them as part of the Colony of Madagascar and Dependencies, and designated them a nature reserve in 1938. The Crozet Islands were incorporated into the TAAF in 1955. The first exploration, led by French meteorologist Alfred Faure (1907-1968), occurred in 1961. A permanent French base was established on Possession Island in 1963 and named Alfred Faure Base in 1969, after the leader of the first expedition. The Alfred Faure Base is staffed by 18 to 30 researchers, depending on the season, who conduct research in meteorology, biology, and geology, and maintain seismological and geomagnetic observatories.
2) Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (Îles Éparses de l’océan Indien)
Location of the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean The Scattered Islands literally refers to French islands dispersed throughout the Indian Ocean—several uninhabited islands scattered around Madagascar. The Scattered Islands comprise five main areas: Bassas da India atoll, Europa Island (Île Europa), Glorioso Islands (Îles Glorieuses), Juan de Nova Island (Île Juan de Nova), and Tromelin Island (Île Tromelin). The Scattered Islands were discovered and recorded by European explorers, including the Portuguese, between the 16th and 18th centuries. Bassas da India atoll was discovered by Portuguese explorers in the early 16th century, referred to in Portuguese as Baixo da India, Bayos da Indya, and Baxos de la India ('Lower India'). It was later written in French as Basses de Judie, Basse Juive, until British explorer William Owen
인도양의 분산된 섬들의 위치 인도양의 분산된 섬들은 말 그대로 프랑스령 중 인도양에 분산된 섬들을 의미하는데 마다가스카르 주위에 흩어져 있는 여러 무인도들입니다. 인도양의 분산된 섬들에는 바사스 다 앵디아 환초 (Bassas da India), 외로파 섬 (Île Europa), 글로리외즈 제도 (Îles Glorieuses), 쥐앙 드 노바 섬 (Île Juan de Nova), 트로믈랭 섬 (Île Tromelin) 등 크게 5개 지역이 있습니다. 인도양의 분산된 섬들은 16세기부터 18세기에 걸쳐 포르투갈을 비롯한 유럽 탐험가들에 의해 발견되고 기록되었습니다. 우선 바사스 다 앵디아 환초는 16세기 초에 포르투갈 탐험가들에 의해 발견되었고, 포르투갈어로 '인도 하부 (Lower India)'를 뜻하는 Baixo da India, Bayos da Indya, Baxos de la India 등으로 불리웠습니다. 이후 프랑스어로는 Basses de Judie, Basse Juive 등으로 표기되었다가, 1825년에 영국의 탐험가 윌리엄 오웬
"From the world's best space center to deadly runways and a border drawn by a drunk Dutch guy, France’s overseas empire is full of wild trivia—plus, everyone wants to know why a deserted island uses the Euro."
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