Who colonized french Louisiana?

French Louisiana was colonized by France in the early 18th century, with the establishment of the first permanent settlement in 1718 at New Orleans. The region was part of France's broader colonial ambitions in North America, which included territories in Canada and the Caribbean. In 1762, France ceded Louisiana to Spain, but it was returned to France in 1800 before being sold to the United States in the 1803 Louisiana Purchase.