A prominent 19th-century Voodoo practitioner was Marie Laveau, known as the "Voodoo Queen" of New Orleans. She was a Louisiana Creole who combined African religious traditions, Catholicism, and local customs to practice and lead Voodoo. Laveau was also a healer, herbalist, and midwife who gained considerable influence and was renowned for her spiritual powers, fortune- telling, and preparation of charms called gris gris. She maintained her authority throughout her life until her death in 1881, and her legacy continues to be significant in New Orleans culture. Other notable 19th-century Voodoo figures include Jean Montanée, also known as "Dr John," and Betsey Toledano, who was a high priestess defending the religion's legitimacy in court during the mid-1800s. Voodoo during this time was practiced primarily by free and enslaved black people, often under restrictions imposed by laws fearing slave rebellions. Despite these challenges, the religion thrived in areas like New Orleans and spread along the Mississippi River Valley. Marie Laveau's life and work are intertwined with New Orleans history, and she remains a symbol of Voodoo's cultural and spiritual presence in 19th-century America.
