French Quarter History

http://www.noq.org/

Bienville named the city after Philippe d'Orléans, a member of the French royal family, to gain favor with the court. The influence of the French legacy can be seen throughout the town plan, central square (now called Jackson Square), street names, and various buildings, such as the Ursuline Convent, which is the only remaining building from this time period.

After the Spanish took over in 1762 when Louis XV transferred power over the region to his cousin Charles III of Spain, French colonists staged a revolution in 1768. However, the revolt was put down by then Governor Alejandro O'Reilly, who gained the nickname “Bloody O'Reilly” for his execution of well-known rebel Frenchmen.

The Spanish ruled New Orleans for about forty years. After the great fires of 1788 and 1794, much of the old French colonial architecture in the French Quarter, about 1,000 structures in total, including the main church, St. Louis Cathedral, and other governmental buildings, were destroyed. As such, much of the current landscape and architecture reflects the Spanish's presence in the area. During this time, the St. Louis Cathedral was rebuilt, in addition to the Presbytere, the courthouse, and the Cabildo, the city hall, all of which are still standing today.