The Code Noir

The Code Noir

The Code Noir was one of the most crucial legal documents in shaping the system of slavery throughout the French colonial Empire, including New France, which would later become Canada. Written and issued under the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King laid out strict rules defining the status, living conditions, rights, labour, and punishment of enslaved Black folks throughout his colonies, as well as pointing out the responsibilities of their owners. Although its guidelines were inconsistently enforced in the early years of New France, the Code Noir is responsible for establishing the first ever legal framework for the treatment of enslaved folks.

This document connects Canadian slavery to a wider colonial system. It shows that enslavement in New France was by no means unique or isolated: it was part of a larger, global network of exploitation.

King Louis XIV

New York Public Library. “The Code Noir.” https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/galleries/selling-newworld/item/10989

New York Public Library

1685

Public Domain

Legal Document