Chapter 13
Spanish Settlement in Louisiana

By Rita Trotter

Maps: Spanish Settlements (maps created by M.B. Newton)

 

Introduction

In 1541, Hernando Desoto and a group of Spanish settlers were the first Europeans to see the Mississippi River (Davis, 25). Through the discoveries of this expedition and others in the next few decades, the Spanish were the first Europeans to settle in Louisiana. The Spanish initially showed a great deal of interest in Louisiana, but the absence of gold in the region diminished their curiosity. In 1682, the French led an expedition down the Mississippi and took over Louisiana. The Spanish did not regain the territory until 1763. The French had laid a strong cultural foundation, but the Spanish would shape the government and economics of the region. Among Spain’s greatest contributions to Louisiana was the rebuilding of New Orleans following the fire of 1788. The Spanish also bolstered the economy of the region and Louisiana experienced a dramatic population boom during their reign. The ethnically diverse population of modern-day Louisiana is primarily a result of the immigration policies during Spanish rule. Despite the long period of Spanish rule, only place names remind modern-day Louisianans of their ties to Spain.

First Explorations and Early Settlement

The first Spanish explorer certain to have seen Louisiana was Hernando Desoto. The early expeditions focused on finding gold and exploring the waterways of the Gulf. Some settlements were established, but these were mainly small forts and camps. The Spanish spent little time in the interior of Louisiana. With profitable settlements in Florida, the Caribbean, and Mexico, Spain has no interest in the swampy, treacherous, Louisiana interior. The region went untouched until the French led an expedition down the Mississippi in 1682. The French laid claim to the area and governed it until 1763 (see chapter 10).

Louisiana Under Spanish Rule 1763-1803

France cedes Louisiana to Spain

In 1762, France ceded the Isle of Orleans and all of Louisiana west of the Mississippi to Spain in the Treaty of Fontainebleau. Because the treaty was signed in secrecy, Spain did not take over Louisiana until 1766. Antonio de Ulloa, the first Spanish governor of Louisiana, fled the region because of a revolution shortly after his arrival (Davis, 83). The citizens of Louisiana had a deep French heritage and they were not willing to accept Spanish rule. A major reason for the lack of Spanish heritage in Louisiana today is because of the refusal by culturally French Louisianans to embrace the culture of their Spanish rulers.

Spanish Governing Policies

In 1769, Alejandro O’Reilly arrived in Louisiana with a large army and put down the revolution (Davis, 85). Strict governing of the colony continued for the remainder of Spain’s rule. One of Spain’s first actions in Louisiana was the establishment of a new system of government. The council, known as the Cabildo, consisted of ten members and the governor. The Spanish appointed many French citizens to government positions to help smooth relations between the government and its subjects. The Cabildo, the building where the council met, still stands today in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Another area of importance in Spanish Louisiana was commerce. The Spanish wanted Louisiana to be a profitable colony and they spent a fortune trying to insure its success. All of the major settlements in Louisiana were situated on waterways to facilitate trade. New Orleans was the most important of these cities. The Spanish initially tried to keep other countries from using the port at New Orleans, but intense pressure from the United States forced the Spanish to grant the right of deposit to the Americans. The use of the port by other nations combined with Spain’s lenient immigration policies led to an influx of immigrants.

Finally, in 1800, the Spanish signed a secret treaty with France that gave the French control of Louisiana. The Spanish pretended to run the government until early 1803. In 1803, France sold all of Louisiana to the United States for 15 million dollars (see chapter 10).

Major Areas of Settlement in Spanish Louisiana

In 1774, the King of Spain gave the Governor of Louisiana the right to grant land without limitation. In the 1770s, a group of about 700 men and their families were brought to Louisiana with their families from the Spanish owned Canary Islands. These families settled in what are now St. Bernard, Ascension, and Assumption parishes. The tiny communities these families created did not last, but they did contribute something very important to Louisiana agriculture-sugarcane. These families are credited as being the first people to introduce sugarcane in Louisiana (Aleman, 1).

In 1779, a group of settlers from Spain moved to Louisiana and set up a community named New Iberia. The settlement was located on Bayou Teche and consisted of about five hundred people. The colony was moved a number of times because of flood, disease and other disasters. New Iberia was relocated for a final time to an area on Bayou Teche that was already inhabited by some Acadians. Just as the Spanish did throughout the rest of Louisiana, they learned to live among the French in harmony.

In the 1780s, Governor Miro granted large tracts of land to Don Juan Fihiol, commandant of Ouachita, and Lt. Joseph De La Baume on the Ouachita River (Encyclopedia of LA, 1). In a few years, the area was estimated at having over 100 Europeans. A small fort was established on the Ouachita River and it was named Fort Miro. The settlers of the region were mainly wheat farmers that immigrated from the United States. The city of Monroe stands where Fort Miro once stood.

Overall Accomplishments of the Spanish in Louisiana

The Spanish did not manage to usurp the cultural influence of the French in Louisiana, but they did accomplish a number of important things. The Spanish introduced sugarcane, an extremely important crop for Louisiana. Because of Spain’s lenient immigration policies, Louisiana's population increased fivefold during their reign (Goins and Caldwell, 29). Following the fire of 1788, New Orleans was rebuilt following Spanish architectural styles. Much of that Spanish architecture is present in New Orleans today. The Spanish, like their French predecessors, maintained the presence of Catholicism in Louisiana. The Spanish also adopted the culture of French Louisianans instead of attempting to suffocate it. Ultimately, the Spanish presence in Louisiana was responsible for settlement of much of the region, economic growth, and a major increase in population.

Spanish Legacy in Louisiana

The Spanish controlled the colony of Louisiana from 1763-1800. The Spanish also controlled the Florida Parishes and the areas near the Sabine River (these areas were not included in the colony of Louisiana). Many place names in these areas reflect their Spanish origin. Catholic parish names and Spanish trail and city names are prevalent throughout these regions. Another area that has a Spanish name is Iberia Parish. The parish gets its name from the peninsula on which Spain is located, the Iberian Peninsula.

Perhaps the most obvious symbol of Spanish rule is the architecture in downtown New Orleans. A great deal of the ironwork on the balconies in New Orleans is a product of the Spanish culture. The Spanish built the Cabildo, the Presbytere, and the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral. Despite all of the accomplishments of the Spanish, most Louisianans still look to France as their cultural mother country.

Figure 1: The Cabildo and the Presbytere.
Pictures courtesy of the Louisiana State Museum.
 

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Further Reading

  1. Aleman, Joan. "Islenos: The Canary Islands." Canary Islanders Heritage Society of


      Louisiana. www.intersurf.com/~rcollins/ilenos.html Sept. 20,2000.
 

  1. Brasseaux, Carl A., ed. A Refuge for all Ages. The Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial


     Series in Louisiana History.10. Lafayette, LA: University of Southwestern
     Louisiana Press, 1996.
 

  1. Davis, Edwin Adams. Louisiana, The Pelican State. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana


     State University Press, 1959.
 

  1. Goins and Caldwell, pg. 29 (Handout).

     5. "Ouachita: Whose Land is This Anyway?" The Encyclopedia of  Louisiana
                Index.  www.enlou.com/elindex.htm Sept. 20,2000.