“The donkey sweats so the horse can be decorated with lace” - Haitian Proverb
(Henri Christophe)
Henri Christophe was born as Christopher Henry on October 6th, 1767 in an unknown place in Grenada. He was born a slave. After being born he was brought to the northern part of Saint Domingue. In 1779 he served with French forces as a drummer boy. His regiment went to assist the United States during the U.S. Revolutionary War.
(A statue of Christophe)
As an adult he worked as a mason, sailor, stable hand, waiter, and billiard maker. He worked at and managed a hotel in Cap-Français. As a young man he gained his freedom. In 1791 he became a soldier in the Haitian Revolution. He fought with Toussaint Louverture against the French.
(A drawing of Christophe)
In 1802 he was promoted to general. In 1805 Christophe and Jean Jacques Dessalines mobilized troops to kick out the remaining French troops in the Dominican Republic. They set fire to the town of Santo Domingo. In 1806 he learned of an assassination attempt against Jean Jacques Dessalines but did not tell him. In 1807 he became the president of Haiti in the North.
(A drawing of Christophe)
In 1811 he declared the northern part of Haiti a kingdom. Christophe built 6 châteaux, 8 palaces and the massive Citadelle Laferrière, on a mountain near Milot. For agricultural production he chose to enforce corvée plantation work. He was unpopular during his reign.
(A drawing of Christophe)
On October 8th, 1820 Henri Christophe committed suicide due to risk of a possible coup in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. He was 53 years old.
(A statue of Christophe)
Today is his 249th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Henri Christophe.
No comments:
Post a Comment