Kingdom of France: Map & History
The second largest colonial empire of the 19th and 20th centuries, spanning 11.5 million km² across West and Equatorial Africa, Indochina, and the Maghreb.
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The Kingdom of France is the historiographical name or umbrella term given to various political entities of France in the medieval and early modern period. It was one of the most powerful states in Europe from the High Middle Ages to 1848 during its dissolution. It was also an early colonial power, with colonies in Asia and Africa, and the largest being New France in North America geographically centred on the Great Lakes. In the 16th to the 18th centuries, the French colonial empire stretched from a total area at its peak in 1680 to over 10 million square kilometres, the second-largest empire in the world at the time behind the Spanish Empire.
Modern Countries Once Part of Kingdom of France
At its mapped extent, Kingdom of France covered territory in 22 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Luxembourg1450–1699 CE · nearly all
- Guadeloupe1636–1791 CE · nearly all
- Mauritius1721–1791 CE · nearly all
- Dominica1718–1782 CE · nearly all
- Grenada1653–1782 CE · nearly all
- Comoros1677–1790 CE · nearly all
- Saint Lucia1645–1761 CE · nearly all
- Martinique1636–1791 CE · nearly all
- United States Virgin Islands1691–1712 CE · nearly all
- France990–1791 CE · most
- French Guiana1670–1791 CE · most
- Belgium990–1762 CE · most
- Haiti1670–1791 CE · most
- Netherlands1431–1682 CE · a large part
- Guyana1783–1787 CE · a large part
- Italy1502–1563 CE · a large part
- Germany1757–1762 CE · a small part
- United Kingdom1216–1219 CE · a small part
- Canada1632–1761 CE · a small part
- Dominican Republic1700–1791 CE · a small part
- United States1700–1768 CE · a small part
- Brazil1612–1621 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
- Québec, Canada
- Guinaa, French Guiana
- Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
- Rhône-Alpes, France
- Bretagne, France
- Languedoc-Roussillon, France
- Louisiana, United States
- Calabria, Italy
- Campania, Italy
- Mississippi, United States
- Ontario, Canada
- Apulia, Italy
- Indiana, United States
- Maranhão, Brazil
- New Brunswick, Canada
- Nova Scotia, Canada
- Hessen, Germany
- Maranh, Brazil
- Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, France
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Kingdom of France's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Kingdom of France in Depth
Political history
During the later years of Charlemagne's rule, the Vikings made advances along the northern and western perimeters of the Kingdom of the Franks. After Charlemagne's death in 814 his heirs were incapable of maintaining political unity and the empire began to crumble. The Treaty of Verdun of 843 divided the Carolingian Empire into three parts, with Charles the Bald ruling over West Francia, the nucleus of what would develop into the kingdom of France. Charles the Bald was also crowned King of Lotharingia after the death of Lothair II in 869, but in the Treaty of Meerssen (870) was forced to cede much of Lotharingia to his brothers, retaining the Rhône and Meuse basins (including Verdun, Vienne and Besançon) but leaving the Rhineland with Aachen, Metz, and Trier in East Francia.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kingdom of France (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Kingdom of France: Key Facts
| Capital | Paris |
|---|---|
| Official language | French |
| Religion | Catholic Church |
| Form of government | constitutional monarchy |
| Currency | French franc |
| Founded | 1815 |
| Dissolved | 9 August 1830 |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
- July Monarchy
Facts from Wikidata Q207162 (CC0).
Interactive map
French Africa on the World War I map →
See French Africa’s territory change day by day from 3 August 1914, with every battle it fought.
Interactive map
French Third Republic on the World War II map →
See French Third Republic’s territory change day by day from 3 September 1939, with every battle it fought.
Kingdom of France Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Kingdom of France appears, with the other states of the time.
Imperial History & Territorial Expansion
Divided into the First Colonial Empire (New France in North America and the Caribbean) and the massive Second Colonial Empire forged after 1830 in North Africa (Algeria), West Africa (AOF), Equatorial Africa (AEF), and French Indochina. Following World War I under the League of Nations mandates, the French empire reached 11.5 million square kilometers, fundamentally shaping international diplomacy, the Napoleonic legal code, and the global Francophone community.
Kingdom of France Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
French exploratory fleet enters the Saint Lawrence River.
Napoleon crowned Emperor; promulgation of the Civil Code.
Beginning of the creation of the Second French Colonial Empire in North Africa.
Empire reaches 11.5 million square kilometers across Africa, Indochina, and the Levant.
Key Monarchs, Architects & Strategists
Enduring Planetary Legacy
- ✓Global dissemination of the Napoleonic Code, forming the base of civil law in over 80 countries
- ✓The worldwide Francophonie community comprising over 300 million French speakers
- ✓Diffusion of Enlightenment values, the metric measurement system, and human rights charters
- ✓Monumental urban architecture and civic boulevards replicated from Paris to Saigon and Dakar
Kingdom of France: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Kingdom of France exist?
The Kingdom of France is dated to 1534 CE – 1980 CE (Peak: 1920 CE), in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of the Kingdom of France?
The capital of the Kingdom of France was Paris.
How large was the Kingdom of France at its peak?
At its peak in 1920 the Kingdom of France covered about 802,277 km².
How did the map of the Kingdom of France change over time?
The Kingdom of France appears on 8 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1000 CE to 1700 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Geographic Lifelines
Other Sovereign Realms
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Industrial Era • Capital: London
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Raigad