In the 1660s, New France (now Quebec) had plenty of fur traders—but few women. To fix the imbalance, King Louis XIV sponsored the passage of nearly 800 young women to the colony. Known as the Filles du Roi, or “Daughters of the King,” these women weren’t royalty—they were orphans and working-class girls offered dowries, clothing, and a new life across the Atlantic.

Most married within weeks of arrival, helping to stabilize the colony and grow its population. By the 1700s, they’d played a central role in turning a rugged outpost into a rooted society. Today, millions of French Canadians can trace their lineage back to these unlikely founders. 

Want to see what happened when France tried this again in Louisiana? It didn’t go quite the same.