For our Tricentennial year celebration, the Pontalba family lent many of their family’s treasures for the important Baroness de Pontalba and the Rise of Jackson Square exhibition. Almonester was seventy years old when Micaela was born, and died just three years later. Intimate Enemies: The Two Worlds of Baroness de Pontalba - Kindle edition by Vella, Christina. Micaela’s father- in- law, Baron de Pontalba, had orchestrated the marriage to his son. She lived to build the elegant row houses known to history as the Pontalba Buildings, on Jackson Square, and a vast Parisian hotel, now used as the American Embassy. No contradiction was greater than the chasm between her privileged life and her sufferings at the hand of her husband’s family. 1918 micaela’s grandson edouard, the last baron de pontalba, dies in paris. Pierre is a direct descendant of the first Baron de Pontalba, Joseph-Xavier, who recorded his personal reflections during the 1796 yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans in an epistolary diary! In 1811, Micaela’s mother Louise started sniffing around to find her 15-year … The Louisiana Museum Foundation is excited to launch our Inaugual Founders Ball. How a chance meeting and a love of Louisiana is bringing the Pontalba family home and opening the door for an exhibition of never before seen family treasures. She conceived the Pontalba Buildings in New Orleans as two magnificent blocks of row houses facing each other on Jackson Square. 2 Her mother had wisely contracted for a small portion of the money to be used as a dowry. Baroness de Pontalba lived in New Orleans as an adult for fewer than four years, but her mark on the city is indelible. Joseph-Xavier Delfau de Pontalba, ou Joseph-Xavier de Pontalba né le 11 février 1754 à La Nouvelle-Orléans et mort le 20 octobre 1834 à Mont-l'Évêque, est un … Because of the Baron’s death, Celestin took the rank, and Micaela was awarded the title of Baroness de Pontalba. Xavier Celestin de Pontalba, at the age of 15. The celebration will be another one for the history books that we know you won’t want to miss! From Wikipedia (English):. Micaela Leonarda Antonia Almonester y Rojas, Baroness de Pontalba (November 6, 1795- April 20, 1874) was a wealthy New Orleans-born aristocrat, businesswoman and real estate developer, and one of the most dynamic personalities of that city's history. Colonel de Pontalba was made a Knight of St Louis in 1814. and died at Mont-l'Eveque France in 1834. It soon became apparent that the elder de Pontalba was intent on seizing the Almonester fortune. The Baroness de Pontalba is credited with building the Pontalba buildings along with her father Don Andres Almonester who rebuilt St. Louis Church (now known as St. Louis Cathedral), the Cabildo and Presbytere after the 1788 fire. He believed he should have received a lot more- $40,000 in cash plus jewelry wasn’t enough! 2nd floor features 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Aside, Micaela and Celestin speak of love and agree to meet again. Son mari prenant alors le titre de Baron de Pontalba, elle devient donc Baronne de Pontalba. Micaela bore her husband five children, but the influence of his father on their marriage was disastrous. (THNOC, 1974.25.27.358) Celestin’s father, Baron Joseph Delfau de Pontalba, wanted control over Micaela’s entire inheritance. Thea Musgrave’s opera Pontalba was commissioned as a fitting France-Louisiana subject to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial of 2003. 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