Slavery in France, and by extension, the French Empire, covers a wide range of disparate topics.
Some of the most notable ones include: In 486, Clovis I, the son of Childeric, defeated Syagrius, a Roman military leader who competed with the Merovingians for power in northern France.
In 1198, the Trinitarians were founded by John of Matha with the purpose of ransoming war captive Christians by Muslims during the Crusades.
Slavery was practiced by the French North American colony of New France (covering part of modern Canada).
Abbé Grégoire and the Society of the Friends of the Blacks were part of the abolitionist movement, which had laid important groundwork in building anti-slavery sentiment in the metropole.
[19] Even though slavery has been prohibited for more than one century, many criminal organizations continue to practice human trafficking and the slave trade.
For this reason, on 25 July 2013, France recognized modern-day slavery as a crime punishable by up to 30 years in jail.
[20] See French public institution Fondation pour la mémoire de l'esclavage in French (originally founded on 5 janvier 2004 under the name Comité national pour la mémoire et l'histoire de l'esclavage i.e National Committee for the Memory and the History of slavery).
This association was initially chaired by Serge Romana, a geneticist and leading activist for the recognition of the history of Guadeloupean slavery.
A second crucial step was taken with the adoption of the Overseas Real Equality Act of 14 February 2017, which established 23 May as the commemorative date for the victims of colonial slavery.
The association continues to promote annual commemorations known as “Feasts of Brotherhood and Reconciliation” or “Limié Ba Yo” (which translates as “Let’s put them in the spotlight”) every year on 23 May.