Autocratic leader of French area (6)
I believe the answer is:
despot
'autocratic leader' is the definition.
(term for a tyrant)
'of french area' is the wordplay.
'of french' becomes 'de' ('of' in French).
'area' becomes 'spot' (spot can mean a location).
'de'+'spot'='DESPOT'
(Other definitions for despot that I've seen before include "Person with more than enough power" , "nasty ruler?" , "Arbitrary ruler" , "Cruel absolute ruler" , "Tyrant, dictator" .)