Toussaint Louverture
I did not know this man before going to Haiti. At once
this man who is justly the pride of the Haitians and the founding
father of the Republic of Haiti impressed me.
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I was invited to a commemorative evening in homage to Toussaint
Louverture for the bicentennial of his death (1803-2003) and
I made every effort not to miss that. Born a slave, working like
a slave in a plantation owned by a count, Toussaint led the only
victorious rebellion of slaves in the history of mankind. |
He participated in the great revolt of 1791. In 1794, the
French Convention abolished slavery. The French Republic made
him general of brigade in the army. He chased the Spanish, then
the English from San Domingo. In 1801, being 58 years of age,
he became governor general of San Domingo and had at his command
an army of 25000 men. He was at the height of his fame.
But in 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte decided to reinstate slavery
in the colonies. Can there be any worse news? Once you have tasted
freedom, can one imagine becoming a slave again? The rebellion
broke out immediately in the isles. It is better to die than
to become a slave again. Napoleon sent out an important military
expedition. Resistance was heroic. The losses were terrible.
Toussaint Louverture was arrested for treason, deported
to France, thrown in prison at Fort Joux in the Jura where he
died of hunger, cold and tuberculosis. He was only 60 years old.
He stays and remains a victorious martyr. |