Which European ruler famously remarked that the commerce of India is the commerce of the world and that whoever controls it is the dictator of Europe?

Introduction / Context:
India strategic importance in world trade has been recognized for centuries due to its spices, textiles, and other valuable commodities. Many European powers understood that controlling trade routes to India could give them global economic and political influence. This awareness is captured in a famous quote that describes the commerce of India as the commerce of the world and claims that whoever commands it is the dictator of Europe. This question tests your knowledge of which European ruler made that observation.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The quote emphasizes the centrality of Indian commerce to global trade.
• It states that exclusive command over this commerce makes a power the dictator of Europe.
• The options include Queen Victoria, Peter the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Gustav II Adolf.
• You must correctly associate the quote with one of these historical figures.

Concept / Approach:
Napoleon Bonaparte of France had a strong strategic interest in undermining British power by targeting its trade links, including the route to India. His campaigns in Egypt and the Middle East aimed to threaten British access to India. The given quote aligns well with Napoleon geopolitical thinking that control over the trade of India would translate into dominance in Europe. The other rulers listed had different priorities and contexts, making them less likely candidates for this specific statement.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the quote is about the economic and strategic value of Indian trade to European powers. Step 2: Recall that Napoleon Bonaparte fought several wars against Britain and considered various ways to weaken British trade. Step 3: His expedition to Egypt in the late eighteenth century was partly intended to threaten British access to its eastern colonies, especially India. Step 4: This strategic mindset matches the idea that controlling the commerce of India could make a power dominant in Europe. Step 5: Conclude that Napoleon Bonaparte is the ruler most closely associated with such a statement.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical writings and exam guides that discuss European imperial rivalries often quote Napoleon remarks about the importance of India and its trade routes. Queen Victoria, while ruling over the British Empire, did not articulate this specific quote in the same strategic tone. Peter the Great focused on modernizing Russia and gaining access to warm water ports, and Gustav II Adolf was a Swedish king concerned more with European religious and territorial conflicts. The clear link between Napoleon policy and the Indian trade route confirms him as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Queen Victoria of Britain: Although she was Empress of India, there is no widely recognized record of her making this specific statement in this strategic form.

Peter the Great of Russia: His focus was primarily on internal reforms and access to the Baltic and Black Seas, not directly on Indian commerce as a route to dictate Europe.
Gustav II Adolf of Sweden: He was key in the Thirty Years War but had little direct involvement with Indian trade routes, making this quote unlikely to come from him.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may choose Queen Victoria simply because she is strongly associated with the British Empire and India. Others may not recall Napoleon Asia related strategies and therefore overlook him. To avoid this, remember that Napoleon was obsessed with British trade routes and viewed control over eastern commerce as a way to dominate Europe.

Final Answer:
The ruler who observed that the commerce of India is the commerce of the world and that whoever commands it is the dictator of Europe was Napoleon Bonaparte of France.