The East India Company formed in the final years of Queen Elizabeth 1’s reign grew into a formidable enterprise which seized control of large parts of the Indian subcontinent, colonised parts of Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. At its peak, it was the largest corporation in the world and had its own army of 260,000 soldiers, twice the size of the British army at the time. According to wiki it accounted for half of the world’s trade during the mid-1700s and early 1800s, particularly in basic commodities including cotton, silk, indigo dye, sugar, salt, spices, saltpetre, tea, and opium. It eventually came to rule large areas of India and was involved in the slave trade between 1684 and 1834 until forcibly stopped by the UK government.
The British East India Company was fiercely competitive with the Dutch East Indies company in particular, leading to four Anglo-Dutch Wars.
The East India Company was formed 31 December 1600 (JC) with the founders birth dates unknown. That gives a financially ambitious Sun Mars in Capricorn in a ruthless square to Pluto and Uranus in early Taurus. Saturn in determined Scorpio opposed Uranus and squared Mercury. There was also a wide Yod of Pluto sextile Venus inconjunct Jupiter – grandiose, super-confident, has a considerable impact on society. That Jupiter in Virgo was conjunct Elizabeth 1’s Sun. She was born, 7 September 1533 JC 3pm London, as Pluto moved onto zero degrees Aquarius with Neptune in final degree Pisces about to enter Aries – so not dissimilar to now.
Elizabeth 1’s Coronation 41 years earlier on 15 January 1559 JC also indicated an expansive and acquisitive reign ahead with Jupiter in Aquarius on the focal point of a T Square to Mars Uranus in Scorpio opposition Saturn Neptune in Taurus.
The company lasted into the early years of Victoria’s reign. What is of interest is that it bears similarities to the England, 11 May 973 AD JC chart with its Taurus Sun Mars square Pluto. England’s drive for power at its height.
The Dutch East Indies Company, 20 March 1602 JC, was also a force to be reckoned with. Pluto still in pro-active Aries in 1602 was opposition an expansive, ambitious and lucky Jupiter and inconjunct Saturn in determined Scorpio would give it staying power.
Pluto in Aries clearly gave both companies ‘boot’ when they started; and Uranus moving into Taurus and Neptune moving into Virgo would signal the start of a new materialistic era.
You can see why the Empire and the East Indian Company, along with BLM exploded in 2020. As from February 2018 until October 2023, Pluto has been transiting its Sun Sun/Mars and Mars. As wasn’t it April 2020 when George Floyd died triggering anger and then turning it into anti Colonialism? This is very interesting as there has been a rise of Asian and African power, along with anger concerning the Empire in Britain. With a lot of confusion with the East India Private Army and British Parliament in the U.K.
Marjorie. Is there any significant African Chart whereby trade was establish with Britain, which ties in with the above charts?
There isn’t one over arching company. The European powers started to carve up the interior of Africa circa 1870s with King Leopold of Belgium laying claim (brutally) to the Congo and Englishman Cecil Rhodes further south in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe and South Africa. The French, Germans, Portuguese, Spanish and Italians were also intent on grabbing African territory in what is known as the Scramble for Africa between 1884 and 1914.
Leopold was an appalling man with a record of savagery where his rule of the Congo was concerned which is one reason why it became such a mess in later years. He was a Sun Pluto in Aries opposition Saturn square Mars – and that is nasty.
Cecil Rhodes was a megalomaniac with an eye on trade – a New Moon in Cancer with Pluto, Uranus and Saturn in Taurus.
Quotes: “We must find new lands from which we can easily obtain raw materials and at the same time exploit the cheap slave labour that is available from the natives of the colonies. The colonies would also provide a dumping ground for the surplus goods produced in our factories.” Cecil Rhodes
“Why should we not form a secret society with but one object, the furtherance of the British Empire and the bringing of the whole world under British rule, for the recovery of the United States, for making the Anglo Saxon race but one Empire? What a dream, but yet it is probable; it is possible.” Cecil Rhodes
Thanks Marjorie. Interesting to see the Uranus/Saturn tensions in Taurus and Scorpio, resonant with recent years. And the power of Pluto of course. The way trade – and greed – has shaped our history and our lives across centuries cannot be underestimated.
That 973 England chart you mention is under Saturnian pressure in early 2023. It’s a chart that seems to work quite well, connecting with the 1265 House of Commons chart with its Taurus and Aquarius stelliums. The East India Company was inextricably tangled up with Parliament, who had to rescue them, or reign them in, in various ways, at various times. The EIC’s Venus and Mercury in Aquarius are conjunct those for the House of Commons, opposing Neptune in Leo.
The Dutch East India Company’s 0 Virgo Neptune is conjunct merchant, trader, and traveller Mercury in Virgo in the 1581 chart for the Netherlands – trade across the seas, plus somewhat untrustworthy? Their fixed Saturn and Uranus also reflected in the Netherlands chart, which has Uranus 17 Aquarius and Saturn 26 Aquarius.
Also interesting to see Queen Elizabeth 1’s natal chart here, with the Pluto arriving in Aquarius, and Neptune in late Pisces. Born during a very turbulent year for Britain…..