What is French colonial empire?
{{Infobox former country | native_name = {{lang|fr|Empire colonial français}} | conventional_long_name = French Colonial Empire | common_name = French Empire| | continent = Europe | region = West Europe | country = France | status = Empire| | year_start = 1534 | year_end = 1980| | event1 = [[Jacques Cartier|Cartier]] planted the French flag at [[Gaspé Bay]] | date_event1 = 24 July 1534 | event2 = [[Louisiana Purchase]] by [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] | date_event2 = 30 April 1803 | event3 = Independence of [[Vanuatu]] | date_event3 = 30 July 1980| | image_flag = Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1974).svg | flag = Flag of France | image_coat = | symbol = | symbol_type = | image_map_caption = French conquests and territories over the centuries | image_map = EmpireFrench.png | capital = Paris | latd = 48 | latm = 12 | latNS = N | longd = 16 | longm = 21 | longEW = E | largest_city = Paris | stat_year1 = 1680 (first colonial empire peak) | stat_area1 = 10,000,000 | stat_year2 = 1938 (second colonial empire peak) | stat_area2 = 13,500,000 | stat_year3 = 1534-1980 | stat_pop2 = 150,000,000 | stat_area3 = 24000000 | house1 = [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]]<br>[[House of Bonaparte|Bonaparte]] | today = {{Collapsible list |titlestyle=font-weight:normal; background:transparent; text-align:left;|title=Countries today|{{flag|Algeria}}<br>{{flag|Antarctica}}<br>{{flag|Benin}}<br>{{flag|Burkina Faso}}<br>{{flag|Cambodia}}<br>{{flag|Cameroon}}<br>{{flag|Canada}}<br>{{flag|Central African Republic}}<br>{{flag|Chad}}<br>{{fl