La Pologne dans les plans économiques de la Cour de France (du XVIe au XVIIIe siècles) [Poland in the Economic Plans of the French Court (from the 16th to the 18th Century)]

Abstract

Franco-Polish economic relations have so far received little scholarly attention compared to the political ties between the two countries. From the 16th century onwards, French diplomats and merchant circles showed growing interest in Polish natural resources and markets, an interest expressed in a series of mémoires addressed to the French Court.
This article analyzes the economic intentions of the French Court towards Poland from the 16th to the 18th century, drawing not only on plans elaborated directly at Versailles, but also on suggestions from diplomats and other individuals transmitted in the form of mémoires to the French Court.
The research is based primarily on unpublished mémoires from Parisian archives (Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Naval Archives, National Archives), supplemented by earlier historiographical works, notably Feldman's pioneering study on Franco-Polish trade projects.
The study demonstrates that the idea of establishing direct Franco-Polish commerce constitutes the common thread of French economic policy toward Poland throughout this period. The primary objective was to supply the royal chantiers navals with shipbuilding timber from Polish forests. Poland was also expected to provide raw materials for French industry and to serve as a market for manufactured and colonial goods – a division consistent with mercantilist policy. The main instruments envisaged were the Compagnie du Nord and various attempts to establish trading posts at Gdańsk and Elbląg. These projects foundered on Dutch competition, Gdańsk's privileges, and permanent warfare. Trade between France and Poland remained in Dutch hands until the 18th century.