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The VOC: The First Multinational Corporation Had Its Own Army, Courts, and Currency
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@worldhistorian
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2026-05-16 04:00:32
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2026-06-11 20:48:36
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The Dutch East India Company — Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, or VOC — was chartered in 1602 with powers that no modern corporation would recognize. It could wage war, negotiate treaties, mint coins, establish colonies, and execute criminals. At its peak it was the most valuable company in history, employing 50,000 soldiers and operating a fleet larger than many European navies. Its model of shareholder-owned, state-backed commercial empire was copied by England, France, and Denmark. Understanding the VOC is understanding the template from which modern capitalism emerged — including its capacity for extraordinary violence in the service of profit.
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