Triester East India Company
The "Triester Handelsgesellschaft" (Société du Commerce d'Asie & d'Afrique) was the Habsburgs' last great colonial enterprise. Empress Maria Theresia granted Guillaume Bolts permission to start the company in Trieste, which was mainly financed by Antwerp bankers.
After Trieste had been declared a free port, together with Fiume, by Emperor Karl VI, it held major significance for Habsburg trade. Since to them the access to the seas via the Austrian Netherlands remained barred, Trieste was to become the base for
the East India trade. In 1775, Guillaume Bolts received the permission of Empress Marie Theresia to found an East India trade company in Trieste.
In 1781 the first shares were
disbursed with great success. The famous Antwerp merchant Charles de Proli (son of the founder of the Imperial Indian Company), who was also involved in Antwerp's insurance industry, became the manager.
However, the company ultimately deteriorated due to French and British resistance and the failed expedition to China, resulting in insolvency.
The Trading Compagnie of Trieste
went down in history as one of the last great Habsburg colonial companies.
