Toussaint Louverture: Leaders Of The Haitian Revolution

In 1791, the Haitian Revolution began. The commander was Toussaint Louverture. He was assisted by Georges Biassou and Jean-François, leaders of the rebel army of black slaves. Louverture was an educated former slave who had studied the military campaigns of Julius Caesar. His skills and knowledge contributed to his leadership and organizational ability, two characteristics that had been missing in past revolts. Louverture was originally on Spain side because he wanted to have a part in the northern Saint-Domingue but changed camps when France decided to abolish slavery in 1794. He ultimately became the commander in chief of all republican forces in Saint-Domingue. Using his new role, Louverture tried to create an Independent state for Haiti by rebelling against the French.

At this point of time, France was dealing with the Napoleonic Wars. In October 1801, a break in the Napoleonic Wars allow France to fight back against Louverture. He had to capitulate to the French after two of his top commanders, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henry Christophe, partnered up with the French. Nevertheless, the ‘peace’ agreement between black Creole and French forces didn’t last long. In the summer of 1802, Dessalines, Christophe, and the mulatto general Alexandre Pétion combined efforts and initiated a new battle to remove the French from the land. In November of 1803, the French surrendered to Dessalines and had to flee Haiti within 10 days Around 52,000 French people died during the Haitian Revolution