360 years after its founding by Colbert, the Compagnie des Indes has not disappeared from the Lorient landscape since it has a museum in the citadel of Port-Louis, at the entrance to the harbor of Lorient.
From July 6, 2024 to January 5, 2025, the premises will host an exhibition entitled “Fortune and misfortune, the Chinese squadron and the sinking of the Prince of Conty ». This new scenography highlights the fascinating and dramatic history of the frigate of the same name, belonging to the Compagnie des Indes. From his departure for China in 1745 to his tragic shipwreck in 1746, each stage of this journey is a true epic.
In 1745, the Prince of Conty sets sail on an ambitious trade mission to China, accompanied by two other frigates, the Philibert and theKind. Together, they form a squadron intended to bring back valuable goods from Canton. This journey, although extremely promising, is far from being a simple crossing. From the start, the ships must face the constant threat of English ships, bitter enemies of the French navy, as well as the dangers of storms and unforgiving seas.
After reaching Canton and loading its holds with exotic treasures, the Prince of Conty begins his return to Lorient. This return journey is just as perilous as the outward journey. And it took a tragic turn on the night of December 3, 1746, when the frigate was shipwrecked a short distance from the Breton coast, in the waters of Belle-Île-en-Mer!
But the history of Prince of Conty does not end with its shipwreck. From 1747, recovery operations were carried out by the East India Company to try to find gold bars shipped to Asia at the same time as porcelain, tea and silks.
Porcelain from the wreck of the Prince de Conty. Source: musee.lorient.bzh
More than two centuries later, in 1974, the wreck was rediscovered 10 to 15 meters deep. After a gold bar has been recovered, what remains of the Prince of Conty is then looted. More than a dozen people will be charged in this case after several years of legal proceedings. As recently as 2022, the French state managed to recover five of these gold bars.
Gold bars from the wreck of the Prince de Conty. Source: musee.lorient.bzh
In 1985, the Department of Underwater and Underwater Archaeological Research (DRASSM) undertook an in-depth archaeological assessment of the wreck. This mission will allow us to better understand the circumstances of the shipwreck and to recover objects of great value for our heritage.
Useful information :
The exhibition is visible every day during the summer from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
East India Company Museum
Citadel, avenue du Fort de l’Aigle
56 290 Port Louis
Telephone: 02 97 82 19 13
Ticket office: 02 97 82 56 72
Photo credit: capture of the Compagnie des Indes Museum website (illustrative photo)
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