| Pierre Dugua de Monts Originally from Saintonge, Dugua de Monts was born between 1540 and 1563. A former companion-in-arms to Henry IV, he was rewarded by the king with a pension and the title of “Gentilhomme ordinaire de la Chambre du Roy” (ordinary gentleman of the king’s chamber). Although this is often forgotten, Dugua de Monts was the co-founder of Quebec. He invested a large portion of his personal fortune in the New France undertaking. Close this window |
Carte géographique tirée du tome III des «Oeuvres de Champlain»
Source: ICMH no 26835, de Notre mémoire en ligne, produit par Canadiana.org
After a few years of fruitless efforts, the first people who held the trade monopoly had done nothing to promote the colony and the king was dissatisfied with the results. The proposal presented by Dugua de Monts at that time included everything needed to please the monarch. Focusing on colonization, Dugua des Monts agreed to transport the first families. He was given a monopoly in order to finance his work. Dugua de Monts took Samuel de Champlain, who was already well known at court, with him.
| Dugua de Monts’ proposal Presented in the form of seven article “for the discovery and inhabitation of the shores and lands of Acadia”, this proposal constitutes the first project to colonize New France. Close this window |
| Champlain at court As of the end of the 16th century, Samuel de Champlain was listed on the king’s payroll. He was, among other things, paid “for a certain secret voyage which provided an important service for the king.” Close this window |
As a result of the pressure exerted by certain of his opponents, Dugua de Monts’ monopoly was not extended after 1608 and the efforts made by Champlain to overthrow that decision were in vain. Despite everything, Dugua de Monts and Champlain formed a partnership with a few merchants in order to continue with their colonization project, although it was much less succesful.
| Opponents At the court of Henry IV, certain advisors did not support the colonial initiative, such as the powerful Sully. The Parisian hatters and furriers, for their part, believed that free trade would result in better prices and opposed the monopoly, as did the Normans and the Dutch who wanted to take part in the trade. Close this window |
| Gifts for the king When Champlain met the king in 1609, he did everything possible to ensure the monarch would decide in his favor. He brought gifts back from New France, including two birds “as large as thrushes”, a belt made of porcupine quills and the head of a fish caught in the “great lake of the Iroquois.” Close this window |
In 1611, in order to get things moving, Champlain presented a new proposal to the king. Following the advice he had received from his ally, royal advisor Pierre Jeannin, he suggested that the government of New France be entrusted to a member of the upper nobility, who could rely on the companies with the monopolies for financing. Once that proposal was accepted, Champlain was selected to serve as the lieutenant for that noble and represent royal authority in the colony. Dugua de Monts was no longer involved, but he continued to support Champlain in his undertakings.
| Free trade For various reasons the profits generated by a free trade system are less than those that may be earned by someone who holds a monopoly, despite the losses inherent in colonization. Close this window |
| Representing the royal authority In the colony, Champlain held the position of commandant. King Louis XIII recommended that he ensure that the country would “be obedient to the king, and have people live there who would respect the laws of his kingdom.” Close this window |
At this time, Champlain’s second travel account was published. Such works provided additional means for supporting his projects since, through his books, he made the intelligentsia of the time aware of the colony, while presenting himself as the expert on colonial matters.
Despite his title as lieutenant for the viceroy of New France, Champlain had not overcome all of the obstacles he faced. The colonization of New France was supported by an association of merchants who took the name “Compagnie de Canada”. His relationship with these associates was not always harmonious. Although they did not try to assassinate him, as others would do, some of them refused to accept his authority. When the viceroy of New France was imprisoned in 1616 and another was named, one of his partners, Daniel Boyer, refused to allow Champlain to board the ship for New France, claiming that he was no longer the lieutenant of the legitimate viceroy. A similar problem occurred in 1619, forcing Champlain to go and plead his case to the king yet again.
| Compagnie de Canada It was also called the Compagnie de Condé, since the viceroy of New France at that time was Henry of Bourbon, Prince of Condé. Close this window |
| A failed assassination Organized by Jean Duval, a locksmith who tried to include as many people as possible in his machinations, Champlain’s assassination was intended to turn Quebec over to the Basques and the Spanish. Duval hoped to make a fortune in this manner. Champlain was informed in time and escaped. Duval was executed. Close this window |
In order to obtain even greater support, Champlain submitted two proposals in 1618, one to the king and the other to the Chamber of Commerce. He pleaded for New France, boasting about all of the advantages France could find there: a vast, habitable territory, a passage to China and various resources such as tar, roots for dying, hemp, livestock, vines, metal and lumber. Champlain also mentioned that there were thousands of people there to be converted to Christianity, a weighty argument that earned him the support of France's cardinals and bishops.
Every time Champlain returned to his mother country (starting in 1603, he crossed the Atlantic 23 times), he worked to consolidate his support and develop new associates. In 1630, he fought to restore Quebec, after it had been taken by the English. Champlain, who was both a man of action and a skilled communicator, managed to impose his will.
A skilled diplomat at the king’s court, Champlain was every bit as skilled when it came to negotiating with the Native Peoples. To learn more about this topic, we invite you to return on February 5, 2008.
Sources
LITALIEN, Raymonde and Denis Vaugeois (dir). Champlain: la naissance de l'Amérique française. [Paris], Nouveau Monde éditions; Sillery, Septentrion, 2004, 397 pages.
TRUDEL, Marcel. “Samuel de Champlain”, Dictionnaire biographique du Canada, Vol. 1, [Québec], Presses de l’Université Laval, 1966, pages 192 to 204.
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