|
A New France |
The Iroquois |
English Invasion |
Peace |
Seigneiurial System
| The Kings Girls |
Canadian Identity |
Society |
Government |
The Church |
Champlain |
Frontenac
| Acadia |
The Fall
Louis de Buade de Frontenac was born into
the elite of French society in 1662. His father and
mother both had positions in the court and Louis XIII
was his godfather. He met the great expectations placed
upon him by working hard and rising to the position of
Marshall of the King's Camps. He proved himself an able
and fearless soldier in Germany, Holland and Italy and
was then assigned the role of Governor-General in New
France in 1672.
Frontenac first served as Governor from 1672 to 1682 and
immediately embarked upon a strategy of expansion and
exploration. He pushed the boundaries of New France and
it's trading connections to the west of the Great Lakes
by dispatching Marquette and Jolliet into the wilderness
to map and claim the new lands. He also helped organize
and coordinate La Salle's journey down the Mississippi
River to the Gulf of Mexico and in the process
established a claim to the entire Mississippi River
basin which effectively closed in the English
settlements on the Atlantic seaboard.
He was an immense
figure on the New France landscape and dominated the
political and social scene. His uncompromising attitude
landed him in hot water when he opposed the King's
position of not trading alcohol with the native people.
He felt that in order to compete with the English for
the loyalty and cooperation of the natives, he had to
offer them everything the English were offering and by
1682 matters came t a head when he was recalled to
France.
In 1689 hostilities in
America broke out and New France was faced with a strong
British opponent and the Iroquois on the warpath. Louise
XIV decided to send Frontenac back to New France due to
his military expertise and he was able to force the
Iroquois to the peace table and secure the safety of the
colony by defending Quebec against the British during
King Williams War.
Frontenac died in 1698
after securing the vast French empire in North America
and bringing peace to the area.
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