Book cover for 'The Rise of Corporate Shoguns: Stories of Shadow Sovereigns' featuring a samurai helmet with a golden crescent emblem on a red background.

The Rise of Corporate Shoguns

Discover the untold stories of Shadow Sovereigns—powerful corporate entities that have shaped the world in ways akin to hidden empires. From ancient merchants to modern tech giants, explore how these entities have influenced economies, policies, and even governments.

Sign Up for Updates

Historic Corporate Power Stories

Stylized art of Phoenician merchants on a ship, with ancient Mediterranean trade goods like amphoras and symbols of commerce, representing their influence over trade and politics.
Phoenician Merchants

Pioneers of Mediterranean Trade and Ancient Political Influence

Read More
Stylized art of the Medici family’s influence during the Renaissance, depicting Florence architecture, coins, and financial ledgers symbolizing the Medici Bank’s power in European politics and religion.
Medici Bank

The Banking Family That Shaped European Politics and Religion

Read More
Stylized art of United Fruit Company’s influence in Latin America, featuring banana plantations, vintage trains, and cargo ships symbolizing the company’s control over trade and politics.
United Fruit Company

How a Corporate Giant Created the ‘Banana Republics’ of Latin America

Read More

Dutch East India Company

Dutch VOC ship setting sail from a bustling European port, symbolizing the start of the Dutch East India Company’s global trade empire.
Dutch East India Company

Part 1: The Beginnings of a Global Trade Empire

Read More
VOC ship anchored in a Southeast Asian port with Dutch colonial buildings, symbolizing the Dutch East India Company’s expansion and influence in Asia.
Dutch East India Company

Part 2: Expansion into Asia – Conquest and Control

Read More
Depiction of a deteriorating VOC ship in a colonial port, symbolizing the Dutch East India Company’s decline and the collapse of its trade empire.
Dutch East India Company

Part 3: The Decline of the Dutch East India Company

Read More

Hudson's Bay Company

Illustration of Hudson's Bay Company's first trading post
Hudson's Bay Company

Part 1: Founding a Fur Empire

Read More
Illustration of Hudson's Bay Company's trade expansion with Indigenous alliances.
Hudson's Bay Company

Part 2: Hudson's Bay Company’s Rise

Read More
Historic illustration of the decline of fur trading posts.
Hudson's Bay Company

Part 3: The Decline of a Trade Empire

Read More

Stay Updated on New Stories

Sign up to be notified whenever a new chapter in the Shadow Sovereigns series is published. Don't miss a single story of corporate power and intrigue!