Virginie de Ternant

Marie Virginie de Ternant, née Trahan (August 16, 1818 – November 7, 1887), was the owner and manager of the Parlange Plantation, near New Roads, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana.

It was through her strong personality, diplomacy and charm that she saved the house from destruction throughout its occupation by both the Union and Confederate armies during the American Civil War.

She was the second wife of Claude Vincent de Ternant, whose grandfather had built the plantation house in 1750 on the property obtained by a French land grant.

As the Union Army led by General Nathaniel Banks was approaching Parlange, Virginie, by that time a widow and the manager of the plantation, ordered her slaves to bury three chests of treasure estimated at between one third and a half million dollars in gold and silver coins.

Virginie's son Marius lived a dissolute life and died at the age of 25, while her youngest daughter Julie was accidentally killed by smashing her head into an oak tree.

Virginie lavished great care on the decoration of the home, adding opulent furnishings, and many family portraits; through her efforts, Parlange Plantation acquired renown throughout Louisiana for beauty and elegance.

She and her son, Charles placed the Parlange treasure into three large wooden chests; this was estimated to have been between one third and a half million dollars in gold and silver coins.

The latter eventually became a socialite, married a French banker and shipping magnate; and earned notoriety as the subject of John Singer Sargent's painting, "Portrait of Madame X".