The map above shows just about every country that has been invaded by France one way or another.
The various ways include:
- Invaded
- Colonised
- Former part of an invaded country
- Fought against but did not invade
- Fought on the territory but not against the country
- Airstrikes without land troops
- Temporary Settlement/occupation
As with any map of this type the terms and timelines are highly subjective. And misses several countries, for example:
- Ground troops in Libya during WW2 (see Battle of Bir Hakeim)
- Argentina (see French blockade of the Río de la Plata)
- Most of South America still technically belonged to Spain during the Napoleonic Wars
- Mauritius (See Mauritius campaign of 1809–11)
- Malta (see French occupation of Malta)
For a full list you can see the original discussion on Reddit.
To learn more about French military history have a look at the following books:
- Greater France: A History of French Overseas Expansion
- Ghost Empire: How the French Almost Conquered North America
- Napoleon’s Wars: An International History
- France and Its Empire Since 1870
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Drew says
A British map would show the whole world practically in colour. As far as I am aware, there are only 5-7 countries of the world with whom we have not fought against or taken any military action on their turf.
Ander Aristondo says
The Spanish America should be included in former part of invaded country.