French Colonial Rule in Louisiana

The French in Louisiana: A Colony of 7,000 Rulers On February 27, 1699, Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville established the first permanent French settlement in Louisiana, at Fort Maurepas, near present-day Ocean Springs, Mississippi. By 1718, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, had founded New Orleans, which would become the capital of the French colony. The French had claimed a vast territory, spanning over 1 million square miles, with a mere 7,000 colonists and 2,000 soldiers.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the French colonization of Louisiana was a casual, disorganized effort, with the French simply showing up and claiming the land. The standard story goes that the French were primarily interested in exploiting the region's natural resources, such as fur and timber, and that they had little interest in establishing a permanent settlement. However, this narrative overlooks the complexity and sophistication of the French colonial project in Louisiana.

What History Actually Shows

Historians such as Marcel Giraud and Charles Edwards O'Neill have demonstrated that the French colonization of Louisiana was, in fact, a carefully planned and executed endeavor. On April 4, 1718, Bienville founded New Orleans, and by 1720, the French had established a series of forts and trading posts throughout the region. According to the French historian, Marc de Villiers, the French colonists were able to maintain control over the vast territory through a combination of strategic alliances with Native American tribes and clever use of the geography. The French were able to rule the territory with a mere 2,000 soldiers, thanks to their ability to adapt to the local environment and form alliances with key Native American leaders. As historian Carl A. Brasseaux notes in his book, "The Founding of New Acadia", the French colonists were able to establish a thriving agricultural economy, with crops such as tobacco and indigo, which helped to sustain the colony. By 1730, the French had established a series of laws and regulations governing the colony, including the famous "Code Noir", which governed the treatment of slaves. Historian Gwendolyn Midlo Hall has argued that the Code Noir was a key factor in the development of the colony's unique Creole culture. On January 1, 1731, the French government officially established the colony of Louisiana as a royal province, with Bienville as its governor.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Charles Gayarré and Henry Schoolcraft made conscious decisions to downplay the French colonial period in Louisiana, focusing instead on the Spanish and American influences. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803, orchestrated by President Thomas Jefferson and Secretary of State James Madison, further solidified the erasure of French dominance in the region. As a result, the story of 7,000 French colonists ruling over 1 million square miles with a mere 2,000 soldiers was relegated to the footnotes of history. The Archives Nationales de France and other institutions also contributed to the suppression of this history by prioritizing the preservation of records from other periods. One concrete reason for this oversight is the lack of accessible primary sources, as many documents from the French colonial period were destroyed or remain untranslated.

The Ripple Effect

The French colonization of Louisiana had a direct impact on the modern city of New Orleans, with its unique cultural landscape and architectural style. The city's famous Jackson Square, for example, was originally designed by French colonists and still reflects the city's French heritage. The influence of French rule can also be seen in the modern Louisiana Civil Code, which draws heavily from the French Napoleonic Code. This legacy is still felt today, with many Louisianans claiming French ancestry and the state continuing to celebrate its French heritage through festivals and cultural events. The city's distinct Cajun and Creole cuisine is another lasting consequence of French rule.

The Line That Says It All

The French colonization of Louisiana was a calculated experiment in imperial expansion that left an indelible mark on the region's language, culture, and politics.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the French colonization of Louisiana from 1699 to 1803.