“We have dared to be free. Let us dare to be so by ourselves and for ourselves” - Jean Jacques Dessalines
(Jean Jacques Dessalines)
Jean Jacques Dessalines was born as Jean Jacques Duclos on September 20th, 1758 in Grande Riviere du Nord, Haiti. He was born as a slave. He rose to the rank of foreman in the sugarcane fields. When he was 30 years old he was bought by a free Black man and had his last name changed to “Dessalines”. In 1791 he was freed due to the slave uprising. He then joined the slave rebellion of the northern plains led by Jean François Papillon and Georges Biassou. He then became a lieutenant of the revolution. He then joined Spain's military forces against the French colony of Saint Domingue. He then met Toussaint Louverture. In 1794 he became chief lieutenant of Louverture.
(A portrait of Dessalines)
In 1799 he became brigadier general. During the Haitian Revolution Dessalines ordered the killing of all royalists in Saint Domingue to ensure that Haiti would become a nation. In 1801 Dessalines quickly ended an insurrection in the north led by Louverture's own nephew, General Moyse. He gained a reputation of taking no prisoners. When the French tried to retake Haiti in 1802 Dessalines and Louverture defeated them in the battle of Crete a Pierrot. After Louverture was captured Dessalines became the leader of the revolution.
(A portrait of Dessalines)
In 1804 he declared himself Governor of Haiti for life and declared the independence of Haiti. He then claimed himself as Emperor of Haiti. He then ordered the massacre of all Whites in the country and forbade Whites to have land in Haiti. The Haitian army followed the Whites into the Dominican Republic and occupied the country. In 1805 he released the Imperial constitution.
(A portrait of Dessalines)
He demanded that all Black men be either soldiers or laborers. He believed in strict regulation of foreign trade. On October 17th, 1806 Jean Jacques Dessalines was assassinated in Port Rouge, Haiti. He was 48 years old.
(A statue of Dessalines)
Today is his 258th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Jean Jacques Dessalines.
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