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38-564: The name Biloxi in French was spelled Bilocci , in a transliteration of the name of the local Native American tribe. The military camp was also known in French as Fort Maurepas to honor Louis Phélypeaux, comte de Maurepas from the city of Maurepas . It appeared as "Fort Bilocci" on English maps updated circa the years 1710/1725. French Louisiana (part of New France ) was known in French as La Louisiane in colonial times. In modern times it

76-552: A census of the population from 1693 onward, the first since Vauban 's of 1678. At court he was an opponent of Fénelon and the Quietists . Phélypeaux served as Chancellor of France from 5 September 1699 to 1 July 1714. Historian François Bluche wrote that "he gave the Chancellor's office an importance and authority not seen since the early years of Pierre Séguier ." Saint-Simon greatly admired him, writing "There

114-568: A shallop arrived from the Spanish settlement at Pensacola to the east, with the news that d'Iberville and Serigny had reached there with the king's ships, the Renommée of fifty guns, and the Palmier of 44 guns. This was welcome news to the garrison, which had been living for more than 3 months on little more than corn. They had lost more than 60 men due to disease, leaving only 150 persons in

152-655: A French colony along the Mississippi River . However, because of its flooding, he had been unable to find a suitable location during his first voyage of discovery up the Mississippi in March 1699. He returned from his river journey on April 1, and spent another week in searching the shores adjacent to Ship Island , where the fleet had been anchored. On Tuesday, April 7, 1699, d'Iberville and Surgeres observed "an elevated place that appeared very suitable". This spot

190-543: A large supply of provisions and stores. On this second voyage, he was instructed: to breed the Buffalo at Biloxi; to seek for pearls; to examine the wild mulberry with the view to silk [silk worms on leaves]; the timber for shipbuilding, and to seek for mines. Expeditions in search of gold, jewels and valuable furs were the main goals of the colonists. They made thorough explorations of the Mississippi River and

228-526: A magazine for storage of goods and provisions which had been brought from France. On January 16th, Bienville commenced to build the Fort Louis de la Mobile , about 12 leagues above the present city of Mobile , on the right bank of the river. It was the official center of the Gulf Coast colony for the next nine years, until the new Fort Conde was built. (Mobile city developed around it.) In 1717, when

266-485: A mile from the original site (which is on private property) in the 20th century and was open to the public. It was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, when coastal Mississippi was devastated by a storm surge exceeding 30 feet (9 m) plus higher waves. Within a few hours, all coastal towns were flooded more than 90%. Residents who had not evacuated, survived by swimming to treetops or roof lines of taller buildings. A park has since been constructed at

304-493: Is derived from Spanish piragua [piˈɾaɣwa] , which comes from the Carib piraua . The term 'pirogue' does not refer to a specific kind of boat, but is a generic term for small native boats in regions once colonized by France and Spain , particularly dugouts made from a log. In French West Africa , the term refers to handcrafted banana-shaped boats used by traditional fishermen. In Madagascar, it also includes

342-532: Is referred to as La Louisiane française to distinguish it from the modern state of Louisiana (also "Louisiane" in French). The fort was completed on May 1, 1699 under direction of French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville , who sailed for France on May 4. He appointed his teenage brother Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville as second in command after the French commandant Sauvolle de la Villantry (c.1671–1701). M. d'Iberville originally intended to establish

380-485: The Missouri River and its branches, a major tributary of the Mississippi that has its confluence at what later developed as Saint Louis. During the absence of d'Iberville, his young brother Bienville made further expeditions to try to secure the prosperity of the colony. But the colonists suffered from tropical diseases of the region: many died from yellow fever , including the governor, M. de Sauvolle, who died in

418-465: The chancellor de Pontchartrain , was a French politician. Louis Phélypeaux was born on 29 March 1643 as son of Louis I Phélypeaux de Pontchartrain , and became an advisor to the Parlement of Paris by request on 11 September 1660. On 16 June 1677, he bought the post of First President of the Parlement of Rennes for the sum of 100,000 francs, replacing François d'Argouges , which on 27 August 1677

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456-589: The Caribbean, the now-Mexican and Gulf Coasts and the East Coast of what is now the United States. For the most part, though, such vessels were used for scouting or as tenders . Pirogues were used by Lewis and Clark on the Missouri River and westward from 1804–1806, in addition to bateaux , larger flat-bottomed boats that could only be used in large rivers. Their pirogues were medium-sized boats of

494-442: The Mississippi from the upper country (today's Quebec). Fathers Davion and Montigny, accompanied by a few Frenchmen, were th first visitors at the fort, having made the journey downriver in canoes. In May 1700, the settlers were visited by M. Sagan, a traveler from Canada. He carried a request from the French minister to the governor M. de Sauvolle, asking that Sagan be furnished with 24 pirogues and 100 Canadians in order to explore

532-664: The Royal Households, his discretion was appreciated by Louis XIV . He was made clerk of the prestigious Order of the Holy Spirit in May 1700. He resigned in 1714 for having failed to affix the seals to the decree of 5 July 1714, condemning a document by the Bishop of Metz , Henri-Charles de Coislin , as contrary to the papal bull Unigenitus . He had found it difficult to reconcile his religious beliefs with those of

570-484: The channel at Dauphine island (present-day Dauphin Island ) had become choked with sand, de l'Épinay and de Bienville decided to make use of the harbor at Ship Island . They ordered a new fort to be constructed on the mainland opposite, selecting a place one league west of Old Biloxi for a site across Biloxi Bay. The transport ship Dauphine , commanded by M. Berranger, had arrived with many carpenters and masons. They built

608-473: The coast and is only useful for tailwinds , while the triangular-shaped ones are used to transfer goods from one place to another by maintaining a bowline direction. Outboard motors are increasingly being used in many regions. There are accounts of 17th and 18th century Caribbean pirates using pirogues to attack and take by force much larger vessels including sloops and even barca-longas . Pirogues were used extensively by pirates and buccaneers throughout

646-520: The colony. Bienville was ordered to evacuate Biloxi, and move to a settlement on the Mobile River . On January 5, 1702, Bienville departed for the Mobile River, leaving 20 men under the command of M. de Boisbriant as garrison at the fort. At Dauphin Island , Bienville met with his brothers de Serigny and Chateaugue, who had arrived with a detachment of sailors and workmen. They were to build

684-681: The company carrying eight rowers and a pilot, capable of carrying eight tons of cargo. Henry D. Thoreau writes of using heavy pirogues in his book The Maine Woods . Pirogues in the United States are associated particularly with the Cajuns of the Louisiana marsh. The early Creole pirogues were cypress dugouts but today they are usually flat-bottomed boats . Pirogues are not usually intended for overnight travel but are light and small enough to be easily taken onto land. The design also allows

722-477: The early 18th century, the capital of French Louisiana was moved from Mobile to Nouveau-Biloxi (present-day Biloxi ), across Biloxi Bay . However, later in the same year, Fort Maurepas (at Old Biloxi) burned. It was never reconstructed. Later, during June–August 1722, the capital was moved again, by colonial governor Bienville , from Biloxi to deeper waters in the Mississippi River at a new inland harbor town named La Nouvelle-Orléans ( New Orleans ), built for

760-619: The fort had been finished. They also carved what is known as the Iberville stone , claiming the site for France. This is now held by the Louisiana State Museum. The expedition journal reported: In the meantime, the boats were actively engaged transporting the powder, guns, and ammunition, as well as the live stock, such as bulls, cows, hogs, fowls, turkeys, etc. . . . The fort was made with four bastions, two of them squared logs, from 2-3 feet [1 m] thick, placed one upon

798-805: The founding of New Orleans as the capital, but this was in fact its first full-year as capital. The name Alabama (after a Native American tribe) was used by the French colonists as one of the nine military districts of the Province of Louisiana (in 1752): Biloxi, Natchez, Yazoo, Alabama, Mobile, New Orleans, Illinois, Arkansas and Natchitoches (French names of military districts; all but two were named after local Native American tribes). Louis Ph%C3%A9lypeaux, comte de Pontchartrain Louis Phélypeaux, marquis of Phélypeaux (29 March 1643 – 22 December 1727), Marquis of Phélypeaux (1667), Comte de Maurepas (1687), Count of Pontchartrain (1699), known as

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836-482: The gunboats. Altogether about 100 people were left at Fort Maurepas while Iberville sailed back to France on May 4, 1699. Those remaining included: Few of the colonists were experienced with agriculture, and the colony never became self-sustaining. The climate and soil were different than they were familiar with. On the return of d'Iberville to Old Biloxi in January 1700, he brought with him sixty Canadian immigrants and

874-735: The increasingly authoritarian Louis XIV. He retired to an Oratorian institution where he died in 1727. In 1668 he married Marie de Maupeou . They had one son, Jérôme Phélypeaux (1674–1747), comte de Pontchartrain. Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana was named after him, as well as the historic Hotel Pontchartrain in New Orleans . In Michigan his name was given to Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit (the site of modern-day Detroit ), and to Detroit's Hotel Pontchartrain . Isle Phelipeaux , Isle Pontchartrain, and Isle Maurepas, which appear on early maps of Lake Superior , were named in his honour by Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix . It

912-417: The more elaborate Austronesian lakana outrigger canoe . Pirogues are usually propelled by paddles that have one blade (as opposed to a kayak paddle, which has two). It can also be punted with a push pole in shallow water. Small sails are built by local fishermen and they can also be employed. There are two types of sails with differences in their shapes, the square one is used mainly for fishing near

950-687: The new fort, known as New Biloxi ( Nouveau-Biloxi ) and also as Fort Louis . In 1719, Fort Maurepas (at Old Biloxi) was burned; it was never reconstructed by the French. Another fort and magazines were also constructed on Ship Island, in the Gulf of Mexico . In 1719, the administrative capital of French Louisiana was moved to Old Biloxi from Mobile (or Mobille ), during the War of the Quadruple Alliance (1718–1720) against Spain. Due to hurricanes and shifting sand bars blocking harbor waters during

988-488: The other, with embrasures for port holes, and a ditch all around. The other two bastions were stockaded with heavy timbers which took four men to lift one of them. Twelve guns were mounted. The best men were selected to remain at the fort, including detachments of soldiers to place with the Canadians (the French also had a colony in what is now Quebec and along the upper Mississippi River) and workmen, and sailors to serve on

1026-472: The pirogue down the bayou". Johnny Horton , an avid Louisiana fisherman who celebrated Cajun customs and culture, also mentions pirogues in his 1956 song "I Got a Hole in My Pirogue". Hank Williams, Jr. (son of the aforementioned Hank Williams) had a hit song in 1969 "Cajun Baby", which refers to the pirogue in the line "ride around in my old pirogue". Doug Kershaw 's 1961 hit "Louisiana Man" includes

1064-414: The pirogue to move through the very shallow water of marshes and be easily turned over to drain any water that may get into the boat. A pirogue has "hard chines" which means that instead of a smooth curve from the gunwales to the keel , there is often a flat bottom which meets the plane of the side. In his 1952 classic song " Jambalaya ", Hank Williams refers to the pirogue in the line "me gotta go pole

1102-464: The purpose during 1718-1722. In modern times, a replica of Fort Maurepas was built at the site, then within the town of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. It was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, when all coastal areas of Mississippi were devastated by a storm tide exceeding 30 feet (9 m), with waves even higher. A replica of the wooden Fort Maurepas was built on front beach about

1140-674: The site of the fort. It includes a playground, a splash pad, a stage, a two-story structure with a viewing platform overlooking the beach, public restrooms, and an eco-friendly parking lot. The construction included improvements of pathways along the beach, and to the sailors memorial, crosswalks, and fire pits. It provides access to parking on the opposite side of the Biloxi Bay Bridge . Historical documents, reports and translated journals about Fort Maurepas sometimes contain conflicting dates, or other details. They were records of what people knew, and their understanding of time and context

1178-542: The summer of 1701. Bienville became ranking chief in command, and acted as commandant. On September 16, 1700, a party of Choctaw warriors arrived at Biloxi, asking for French troops to help them fight against the Chickasaw , their traditional enemies among native groups. The Choctaw during this period had 40 villages, with more than 5,000 warriors. On October 25, 20 Mobile natives arrived at Fort Maurepas. They were said to have about 400 fighting men. On December 18, 1701,

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1216-573: The surrounding country. In 1700, Le Sueur was sent to the upper Mississippi with 20 men to establish a fort in the Sioux country. His government intended to take over the copper mines of the Sioux Indians in the interests of France. Meanwhile, the French had established forts and settlements in the Illinois country . Learning of the French colony at Old Biloxi, Canadians came by the boatload down

1254-648: Was Controller-General, but gained two more ministerial posts in 1690. From 6 November 1690 to 2 July 1714, Louis became Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi (Chief of the King's Household), and from 6 November 1690 to 5 September 1699 became Secretary of State of the Navy . From 13 November 1690 to 27 December 1693, Louis became Perpetual Head, President, and Director of the East India Company . He conducted

1292-513: Was finalised. During revolts in the Duchy of Brittany , Phélypeaux was able to lead a peaceful resolution by helping the return of the Parliament to Rennes and meeting with revolters. On 25 April 1687, he was recalled to Paris at request of king Louis XIV to become Controller-General of Finances , which began his career as minister. Between 29 September 1689 and 5 September 1699, Louis

1330-404: Was later determined that Phelipeaux did not actually exist, and it is uncertain whether Pontchartrain and/or Maurepas refer to real islands known today by other names. Pirogue A pirogue ( / p ɪ ˈ r oʊ ɡ / or / ˈ p iː r oʊ ɡ / ), also called a piragua or piraga , is any of various small boats , particularly dugouts and native canoes . The word is French and

1368-484: Was limited. Often, such writings compress events to simplify the overall view. In summary, the French claim to La Louisiane (in New France ) began at Fort Maurepas in 1699, moved to Mobile in 1702 (relocated in 1711), and returned to Fort Maurepas (Old Biloxi) in 1719. The main garrison moved to the fort at (New) Biloxi , then to New Orleans during June–August 1722. Several source documents sometimes state "1723" for

1406-417: Was never a man so quick of understanding, so cheerful and pleasant in conversation, so swift and confident in action, so sure in his judgment of other men, or so clever in outwitting them…his integrity was remarkable, apparent in everything that he did, and, underlying the lightheartedness that remained with him until the end, was much piety, kindness, and let me add, decency.” Pontchartrain was also Secretary of

1444-408: Was on the northeast shore of Biloxi Bay . They had found the bay was 7–8 feet (2 m) deep. They decided to construct the fort there, as they "could find no spot more convenient, and our provisions were failing, we could search no longer". On Wednesday, April 8, they commenced to cut away the trees preparatory for construction of the fort. All the men "worked vigorously", and by the end of the month,

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