Étienne Périer
Encyclopedia
Étienne Périer was the fifth governor
of the Louisiana
colony. He became governor in 1727. His governorship was marked by the arrival of the first Ursuline nuns in New Orleans
in 1727 to establish the first convent
within the limits of what was to become the United States
as well as a war against the Natchez Indians
due to bad relations with Chepart, the commander at Fort Rosalie
. After agitating the Indians by demanding that they give up either their village or their land, the Indians launched an attack on November 26, 1729 and killed nearly three hundred persons at Fort Rosalie. hiiThe French retaliated and by 1731 had killed or captured most of the Indians. The captured Indians were sent as slaves to Santo Domingo
, and the few remaining free moved further westward and joined the Chickasaw Indians. This marked the end of the Natchez Indian Nation. In the same year, the Company of the Indies petitioned the King of France to take back their charter, thus ending their control of the colony. Périer remained governor for two years after Louisiana was returned to the king but became frustrated with deteiorating relations with the Chickasaws and lost interest in the colony. He resigned, and Jean-Baptiste le Moyne de Bienville was chosen to yet again be governor of the colony.
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
colony. He became governor in 1727. His governorship was marked by the arrival of the first Ursuline nuns in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
in 1727 to establish the first convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
within the limits of what was to become the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well as a war against the Natchez Indians
Natchez people
The Natchez are a Native American people who originally lived in the Natchez Bluffs area, near the present-day city of Natchez, Mississippi. They spoke a language isolate that has no known close relatives, although it may be very distantly related to the Muskogean languages of the Creek...
due to bad relations with Chepart, the commander at Fort Rosalie
Fort Rosalie
Fort Rosalie was a French fort built in 1716 in the territory of the Natchez Native Americans. The present-day city of Natchez, Mississippi developed at this site. As part of the peace terms that ended the Natchez War of 1716, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville required the Natchez to...
. After agitating the Indians by demanding that they give up either their village or their land, the Indians launched an attack on November 26, 1729 and killed nearly three hundred persons at Fort Rosalie. hiiThe French retaliated and by 1731 had killed or captured most of the Indians. The captured Indians were sent as slaves to Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, and the few remaining free moved further westward and joined the Chickasaw Indians. This marked the end of the Natchez Indian Nation. In the same year, the Company of the Indies petitioned the King of France to take back their charter, thus ending their control of the colony. Périer remained governor for two years after Louisiana was returned to the king but became frustrated with deteiorating relations with the Chickasaws and lost interest in the colony. He resigned, and Jean-Baptiste le Moyne de Bienville was chosen to yet again be governor of the colony.