Important dates in Haiti's History
1793 - 1802

 

 



Important Dates in Haiti's History >

 

 

1793

April 12,13

The authorities of the Second Civil Commission and the Affranchis lead an attack against the whites of the colony to force them to support the implementation of the law of April 4, 1492 which grants to all Affranchis political equality with the whites of the colony.  The armed forces of the Second Civil Commission  win the attack.

Toussaint Louverture offers his services to the Spanish Crown.

June 20, 21

Galhaud, a white planter, revolts against the authority of the Second Civil Commission and is defeated by the colonial army.

Henri Christophe is promoted to the rank of captain of the French colonial armed forces.  British troops land in St-Domingue.

  End of June

Toussaint Louverture captures the city of Dondon for Spain.

  August 13

Toussaint Louverture defeats the French general, Desfourneaux, at Ennery.

  August 29

Sonthonax, the head of the French Second Civil Commission proclaims the abolition of slavery  in the northern region of Saint-Domingue.  This declaration is not officially approve by French government.

  December 6

Toussaint Louverture seizes Gonaives for Spain and later becomes Lieutenant-General of the colonial army of Spain.

1794

February 4

The French National Convention officially declares the abolition of slavery in all French colonies.

May

Toussaint Louverture leaves the Spanish camp to join the French troops.

  June 1

After a weak resistance by Colonel Montbrun, Port-au-Prince falls to the English.

  October 21

Toussaint Louverture captures the cities of Saint-Michel and Saint-Raphael for France.

1719

October 13

            Toussaint Louverture takes Dondon for France.

  October 14

The Treaty of Bale of July 22, 1795 is ratified in St-Domingue.  Through this reaty, Spain departs from the coalition against the French and surrender the eastern section of Hispaniola to France.

 1796

March 30

The Villatte Revolt (l’Affair Villatte).  Toussaint Louverture rescues the French  from the mulatto Villatte, an insurrectionist of the city of Cap Francais.  To show  his gratitude, Laveaux appoints Tousaint Louverture as the Lieutenant-Governor of Saint-Domingue.

May 11, 2000 

The Third Civil Commission arrives in St-Domingue.  The members are Sonthonax, Roume, Giraud, Leblanc, and Julien Raymond.  The Commission was sent by the French government with the goal of establish diplomatic relations between the colony and France.

1797

May 1

Sonthonax appoints Toussaint Louverture as Commander-in-Chief of the French armed forces of St.-Domingue.

1798

April 20

General Hedouville, delegate of the French government, arrives in the city of Cap-Francais with the mission of pruning the ambitious of Toussaint Louverture.

August 31

The British general, Maitland, signs negotiations with Toussaint Louverture to surrender the troops under his command and evacuate the Mole Saint-Nicolas.

1799

January 12

During a meeting in Port-au-Prince between Toussaint Louverture and the other generals of the colony—Rigaud, Bauvais and Laplume—Toussaint Louverture is recognized as the commander, and Rigaud relinquishes control of the southern cities of Leogane, Grand-Goave, Petit-Goave and Miragoane.

1801

January 27

Toussaint Louverture invades the Spanish section of the island of Hispaniola, victoriously enters Santo Domingo, and proclaims liberty for all slaves.  He appoints a Central Assembly of ten members to issue a constitution that makes him Governor for Life.

July 8

The Constitution of 1801, which bestows to Toussaint Louverture the title of Governor General for Life of St-Domingue, is promulgated.

1802

January 29

Napoleon Bonaparte sends an expeditionary fleet to St-Domingue under the command of his brother-in-law, General Leclerc.  The fleet anchors in Samana Bay with the mission to defeat the black generals and restore slavery.

February 1

French vessels arrive off the harbor of Cap-Francais.

February 4

Henri Christophe sets Cap-Francais on fire to resist against the French troops.

February 23

Toussaint Louverture is defeated at the Battle of Ravine a Couleuvres by the army of Napoleon.

March 11

To resist French invasion at the Battle of La Crete-a-Pierrot, Dessalines gathers his troops.  Then by swaying a lighted torch near the powder magazine he fiercely declares that he would blow up the fortress should the French troops invade it.

End of March

Toussaint Louverture is defeated by the army of Napoleon.

May 6

Toussaint Louverture arrives in the city of Cap to surrender to the French army and to negotiate his submission.

June 7

Toussaint Louverture is arrested through treachery by the French general, Leclerc.  He is first embarked on the vessel La Creole, then sent to France on the vessel Le Heros.  He is incarcerated in the jail of Fort de joux, located in the apex of the icy jura mountains of France.

October 13

Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Alexandre Petion meet in the Haut-du-Cap to organize the independence war under the command fo the appointed Commander-in-Chief Dessalines.

November 1-2 (night)

The French general, Leclerc, brother-in-law of Napoleon, dies of yellow fever in St-Domingue.  His remains are sent back to France.



 

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