Port-Louisis acommunein theMorbihandepartmentofBrittanyin north-westernFrance. Inhabitants of Port-Louis are called inFrenchPort-Louisiens.
At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading withIndiaestablished warehouses in Port-Louis. They later built additional warehouses across the bay in 1628, at the location which became known as"L'Orient"(theOrientinFrench). In 1664, during the reign of KingLouis XIV, theFrench East India Companywas established at Port-Louis. The company established a shipyard atLorient. The Company was not able to maintain itself financially, and it was abolished in 1769. In 1770, KingLouis XVIissued an edict that required the Company to transfer to the state all its properties, in return for which the King agreed to pay all of the Company’s debts and obligations. The French government then took over the shipyards as a naval port and arsenal.