Toussaint L'Ouverture and The Haitian revolution-gctid525076

[Chris Kwadwo Oliver]

It is quite interesting of Haiti's rich history of resistance against eureurasiaan domination starting with Columbus's son in 1522 and that Napoleon wanted to colonized Haiti instead ruling it directly because as great as General Toussaint was he only wanted to be governor of Haiti instead of fighting for it complete freedom like Dessalines, which led to his betrayal by the French and his ultimate torture and death. But it was interesting to hear that he wanted to invade Jamaica and free his people, Dessalines wanted to do the same thing for all the Caribbean. Alexander Hamilton, who the show is named after, was passing as white and I believe his mother was Kmtyw who was brought to Nevis and I think he was also a slave owner. Nonetheless this was very good information. Peace.   

[Guest]

@blackzar8 Toussaint L'Ouverture had a secret plan of ultimately gaining independence from France. Napoleon said he could never fully trust Toussaint because of this.

Napoleon said "Toussaint... was not a man destitute of merit; but he certainly was not so highly gifted as was attempted in his time to describe him. His character, besides, was ill calculated to inspire real confidence; he had given us serious causes of complaint. It would have been necessary to be always distrustful of his sincerity." pg 171

Mémorial de Sainte Hélène. Journal of the private life and conversations of the Emperor Napoleon at Saint Helena 4

(Napoleon's tone about Toussaint proves his jealousy of him which many writers of that time pointed out.)

Laure Junot Abrantes points out that Napoleon had suspicions that Toussaint was going to liberate the whole Caribbean.

Mais le premier consul disait, avec raison, que Toussaint n'était qu'un fourbe qui, tout en protestant de son dévouement au gouvernement consulaire, méditait de soustraire les Antilles françaises à l'autorité de la république.

But the first consul (Napoleon) justly observed that Toussaint was a hypocrite, who, while protesting his devotion to the Consular Government, was meditating the liberation of the French Antilles from the authority of the Republic.

Memoires of the Duchess of d' Abrantes by Laure Junot Abrantes pg 127

Jean Jacques Dessalines continued the work of Toussaint. People speak of Dessalines as if he was at odds with Toussaint, but i must remind people that Dessalines' was Toussaint's right hand man.?

Toussaint's plan was to stabilize the economy of Haiti before they declared independence. (Toussaint did not want Haiti to become a "third world country")

[Chris Kwadwo Oliver]

I am still of the opinion based upon learned scholars, that even though Nana Toussaint was a great general who was instrumental in the liberation of Haiti that led to the abolishing of enslavement of Kmtyw in the Diaspora, he was more interesting making an alias with France than full liberation of Haiti and he was more interesting in being French than being an Kmtyw unlike Nana Dessalines who was unapologically Kmtyw/Black so much so that in 1804 he declared that everyone in Haiti was Black even the Polish soldiers who were fighting with the Haitians. Peace.

[Guest]

@blackzar8 Edward Stevens who talked to Toussaint personally provides insight about the secret plan Toussaint had for eventual independence.

"While i was uncertain of the real intentions of Toussaint, i was loth to say any thing to you about them. Now that i think i know them it is my duty to announce them to you. He is taking his measures slowly but securely. All connection with France will soon be broken off. If he is not disturbed he will preserve appearance a little longer. But as soon as France interferes with this colony he will throw off the mask, and declare it independent. Of this very interesting business i shall have the honor of writing you at full length by the first safe conveyance." Edward Stevens letter to Timonthy Pickering Feb 13th 1800- Cape Francois

Toussaint's constitution made Haiti partially independent

[Guest]

The Character of Toussaint L'Ouverture

Toussaint Louverture était très sobre : sa nourriture se bornait à un plat d'œufs, de légumes, de volaille, de bœuf salé et de fromage. mais, à tous les mets du monde, il préférait une omelette et du fromage. Il ne buvait que de l'eau rougie et ne faisait united snakesge d'aucune liqueur forte. Il prenait soir Et matin une tasse de gimbre qui est une boisson fortifiante. à cause de la transpiration abondante qu'excite le climat de Saint-Domingue, il avait la précaution de porter sur la tête un madras qu'il ne quitait que dans des jours de représentation. Le général Leclerc et ses généraux ont imité cet exemple. il aimait passionnément les roses : il en avait souvent dans ses appartemens. quelquefois, il tenait à la main une rose qu'il respirait avec délices. La musique, et surtout la musique militaire, lui caunited snakesit un plaisir inexprimable. Il en goûtait encore un autre que tout le monde ne partageait pas avec lui, C'était d'entendre le son bruyant des trompettes et des Tambours qu'il faisait venir exprès pendant le court instant qu'il dînait ou qu'il avait moins d'occupations. Doué d'une mémoire prodigieuse, il connaissait les noms de tous les officiers et ceux de la plupart des soldats. il avait si bien étudié la topographie de Saint-Domingue qu'il étonnait par l'exactitude Des distances et la description des positions désignées Et les officiers porteurs de ses ordres et ceux qui Etaient chargés de les exécuter.

"Toussaint Louverture was very sober: his food was limited to a dish of eggs, vegetables, poultry, salted beef and cheese. But to all the dishes of the world, he preferred an omelet and cheese. He only drank red water and made use of no strong liquor. He was taking evening and morning a cup of gimbre which is a strong drink. Because of the profuse sweating that excites from the climate of Santo Domingo (Haiti), he had the care to wear a madras on his head that he does not quit in days of representation. The General Leclerc and his generals imitated this example. He passionately loved roses: he had them often in his apartments. Sometimes he held in his hand a rose which he breathed with delight. Music, and especially military music, caused him inexpressible pleasure. He liked yet another that not everyone shared with him, it was to hear the loud sound of trumpets and drums he brought on during the short instant he was having dinner or had fewer occupations. Gifted with a prodigious memory, he knew the names of all officers and those of most soldiers. He had studied topography so well of Santo Domingo that he amazed with the accuracy of distances and description of designated positions and the officers carrying his orders and those who were responsible for carrying them out."

Mon père, ce héros : Toussaint Louverture d'après un manuscrit inédit de son fils Isaac [76 recto ; mention en marge : N°8]

[Guest]

In a letter to Dessalines, Toussaint  highlights his plan to use yellow fever as a weapon against the French army.

"N'oubliez pas qu'en attendant la saison des pluies qui doit nous debarrasser de nos ennemis, nous n'avons pour resource que le destruction et le feu. Songez qu'il ne faut pas que la terre baignée de nos sueurs puisse fournir a nos ennemis le moindre aliment."

"Do not forget that while waiting on the rainy season, which will rid us of our enemies, our only resource is destruction and fire. Remember that the earth bathed in our sweats must not be able to provide our enemies with the least food." pg 137

Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire de la révolution de Saint-Domingue. Par le lieutenant-général baron Pamphile de Lacroix. vol 2

Toussaint and Dessalines with out a doubt understood the destruction of yellow fever on the white french population. When Toussaint and Dessalines were younger they witnessed the death of thounited snakesnds of white immigrants and soldiers by yellow fever in the years 1766-68.?

 

[Guest]

The Plans Napoleon had for Haiti

Napoleon pointed out that his original plan for the blacks of Haiti was to incorporate them into the French army and use them to conquer the Americas for France. He also points out why his plan changed to destroy the leadership of Haiti instead.

 "The truth is, that there were two courses for me to adopt, when the prosperous condition of the republic enabled me to turn my attention to St. Domingo (Haiti), at that time a prey to all the dreadful calamities of civil war. The one was to clothe Toussaint L'Ouverture with the whole civil and military authority, and give him the name of governor, and to entrust the command to black generals; to consolidate and legalize the order established by Toussaint, which had been already attended with happy results, to compel the black farmers to pay a compensation to the former French proprietors, and to restrict the whole of the commerce to the capital by stationing numerous cruisers around the coasts. The second consisted in reconquering the colony by force of arms, bringing to France all those blacks who had been higher in rank than a colonel, disarming the blacks by assuring them of their civil liberty, and restoring all their property to the colonists. Each of these plans had its peculiar advantages and its inconveniences. The advantages of the former were obvious; the republic would possess an army of from 25 to 30,000 men, which would make all America tremble. This would be a new element of power, which would cost no sacrifice either in men or money. The former proprietors, it is true, would have lost the three-fourths of their fortunes; French commerce, however, would have lost nothing, because France would always have enjoyed the executive privilege. The second plan was more advantageous to the colonists, and more conformable to justice, but it required a war, which would call for great sacrifices both in men and money. The conflicting pretension of the blacks, the men of color, and the proprietors reinstated by force of arms, would be a continual source of embarrassment and disorder, and St. Domingo (Haiti) would be always upon a volcano. I had decided on the former; my policy counselled its adoption; the French flag would acquire a great development of power in the American waters, and a variety of expeditions might have been undertaken against Jamaica and all the Antilles, and against south America, with an army of 30,000 blacks trained and disciplined by French officers. I intended to have had inscribed on colors of that army, "brave blacks, remember that France alone recognized your liberty." For this purpose, however, it was necessary to have the frank and sincere co-operation of the chief men among the Negroes; the children, brought up in our schools, and finding themselves in the enjoyment of the same rights and privileges as the whites, would have each year knitted more closely the bonds of union between St. Domingo and France; and it would thus ultimately have become one of our finest and most flourishing provinces. The pride of Toussaint L'Ouverture, or rather, the intrigues of the English government, soon changed the whole state of affairs. Vincent, a colonel of engineers, arrived in France as the bearer of a constitution which Toussaint but just proclaimed in St. Domingo, and with a modification of independence, which he had the audacity to signify to the French government. From that moment the honor of France demanded a very different course of action; the republic had been insulted, for of all the means of proclaiming independence and raising the standard of the rebellion, the black general had chosen the most insolent. There was no longer room for deliberation; the honor as well as the interest of France called for the negro chiefs, who, in my eyes, were nothing more than ungrateful Kmtyws and rebels, with whom it was impossible to establish any system." History of the captivity of Napoleon pg 188-190

(The slogan on the French flags were to have read "brave blacks, remember that France alone recognized your liberty" is a way to recruit the black slaves of Jamaica, the West Indies and South America to the French army. It appears Napoleon wanted to co-opt the plans of Toussaint for the eventual Anti-slavery conquest of the Americas)

General Charles Jean Tristan Marquise de Montolon points out that it was the colonist in Paris who pressured Napoleon to reconquer Haiti.

"The party of the colonists was very powerful in Paris; public opinion required the possession of Saint-Domingo (Haiti)" Memoires of Napoleon vol 2 pg 218

Las Cases also points this out when quoting Napoleon

"He had solely yielded to the opinion of the council of state and his minsters, hurried along, as they are, by the clamors of the colonists, who formed a considerable party at Paris, and were, besides, he said, either nearly all royalists, or in the pay of the English faction." Pg 170

Francois Barbe-Marbois, Bruix and Jacques Francois Begouen were the Councils of State and were all Pro-slavery.

In 1798 Napoleon who being inspired by Islamic Egypt, offered to use polygamy and miscegenation to solve the "race problem" in the West Indies.

 "Whenever it is wished to emancipate the blacks in the colonies, and establish perfect equality there, the legislator must authorize polygamy, and allow every man to have one white, one black, and one mulatto wife at the same time. Thenceforth the different colors, each forming part of the same family, will obtain equal consideration from others; without this, no satisfactory result will ever be obtained. The blacks will be more numerous or better informed, and then they will hold the whites in subjection; and vice versa. " pg 267 Memoirs of the History of France During the Reign of Napoleon Volume 5

Napoleon conversed with theologians about this subject so he can legalize it. (I must point out that Napoleon is wrong about this policy because polygamy never solved the race problem in Egypt or any other Islamic country.)

It appears that on a personal level Napoleon was not a white supremacist, at least not in the extreme sense. There are several moments where Napoleon befriended blacks and mulattoes on a personal level. However Napoleon politically was indeed a white supremacist because the popular opinion of the French masses influenced him to be so.

Example of Napoleon's political racism

When Napoleon was arguing with general Truguet about the white French colonist of Martinique joining the English, he excuses their actions by saying "well then, had I been at Martinique, I should also have been on the side of the English, because above all things it is necessary to save one's life. I am for the whites, because I am white; I have no other reason, yet that is reason good enough. How was it possible to grant liberty to the Kmtyws, to men without any kind of civilization, who did not even know what a colony meant, or that there was such a place as France? It is quite evident, that those who proposed the emancipation of the blacks must wish for the slavery of the whites; but after all, do you suppose that if the majority of the convention had seen what they were doing and been acquainted with the colonies, they would have persisted in granting freedom to the Negroes?" Napoleon to Truguet March 12, 1803

Examples of Napoleon's relations with blacks on a personal level

One of Napoleon's personal friends was General Alexandre Dumas the father of the novelist. (General Alexandre Dumas' mother was a black Haitian) This General was responsible for Napoleon rising to power. Napoleon called him Horatius Cocles of Tyrol because of his military prowess.

   
   
In a letter to the Minister of War, General Alexandre Dumas mentions his friendship he used to have with Napoleon.

"I was the companion of the Consul-General (Napoleon) in nearly all his Italian and Egyptian wars and no one contributed more to his triumphs and glory of arms than did I; his letters, which I have in my possession, testify no less to the respect in which he held me than in his friendship." Pg 202 My Memoirs by Alexandre Dumas vol 1

Napoleon and Josephine agreed to be the Godparents of General Alexandre Dumas' child if he was born first but if Napoleon and Josephine's child was born first, he would be the godfather of their child.

Alexandre Dumas the novelist, in his memoirs mentions this pact his father used to have with Napoleon

"Before the Egyptian campaign it had been settled that if my mother bore a son, the godparents of the said son were to be Bonaparte and Josephine. But things had changed greatly since then, and my father had no inclination to remind the first consul of the general-in-chief's promise." Pg 206 My Memoirs by Alexandre dumas vol 1

Eventually Alexandre Dumas and Napoleon had a fallen out during the Egyptian campaign. (One of the reasons maybe because Napoleon's racial politics changed)

General Alexandre Dumas said about Napoleon after their falling out "To think that i had him (Napoleon) in my arms and how easily i could have strangled him."

Napoleon had several black generals and officers in his army. These black officers turned on Napoleon because of his invasion of Haiti and his segregation of the French army. (Black officers used to be in command of white troops)

An example of a black officer who fought for Napoleon and eventually turned on him was black Cuban major Joseph Damingue. (Nicknamed Hercules by Napoleon) This black soldier won the battle of Arcole for Napoleon, was rewarded the Legion of Honor and possessed one of the hundred swords made for Napoleon's bravest men. He later had a fallen out with Napoleon because he was sent to be commander of only black troops.

   
   
   
Portrait of Joseph Damingue (Hercules) at the the Battle of Marengo

This segregation policy was brought about by race riots in France from the appearance of black officers who had white soldiers, white servants, and white mistresses. The chant was "there will soon be no other than mulattoes in France"

Las Cases who visited Napoleon in exile at St. Helena, mentions how Napoleon befriended a black slave named Toby who worked in the garden and offered to buy his freedom. (Toby may have been from the Andaman Islands)

Las Cases-"Mr. Balcombe's little garden, in which we so often walked, was superintended by an old Negro. The first time we saw him, the emperor (Napoleon), according to his usual custom, desired me to put some questions to him respecting his history; and his answers strongly excited our interest. He was a Malay Indian, and had been forced from his home by the crew of an English vessel, and sold at St. Helena, where he had continued ever since in slavery. His story bore every mark of truth. His countenance had a frank and benevolent expression; his eyes were animated and sparkling. In short his appearance was by no means abject; but on the contrary truly prepossessing. The History of the poor fellow's misfortunes filled us with indignation; and a few days after, the Emperor expressed a wish to purchase him and send him back to his own country.... When we were in the garden, the emperor generally stopped near Toby's hut, and made me question him respecting his country, the days of his youth, his family, his present situation, &c. : one would have supposed that he wished to study the feelings of the old slave. By the emperor's desire, I variably closed the conversation by giving him a Napoleon (Coin). Toby was very much attached to us; our presence always seemed to fill him with joy. When we entered the garden, he immediately suspended his work, and, resting on his spade, gazed on us with an air of satisfaction.  He understood not a word of the conversation that passed between the emperor and myself; but he always seemed to anticipate, with a smile, the first words I translated to him. He called the Emperor (Napoleon) the good gentleman: this was the only name he ever applied to him, and he knew him by no other. "

Napoleon expresses his feelings about Toby's situation

Napoleon said- "Poor Toby has been torn from his family, from his native land, and sold to slavery: could anything be more miserable to himself, or more criminal in others! If this crime be the act of the English captain alone, he is doubtless one of the vilest of men; but if it be that of the whole of the crew, it may have been committed by men, perhaps, not so base as might imagined; for vice is always individual, and scarcely ever collective." Pg 242-243

According to Miss Balcombe, Napoleon gave Toby twenty Napoleons (Gold coins). (In hopes he would buy his own freedom)

"Napoleon took a fancy to old Toby, and told papa he wished to purchase him, and give him his freedom; but for some political reason it was not permitted. The old man retained ever afterwards the most grateful sense of Napoleon's kindness, and was never more highly gratified than when employed in gathering the choicest fruit, and arranging the most beautiful bouquets, to be sent to Longwood, to "that good man, bony,' as he called the emperor. Napoleon made a point of inquiring, whenever I saw him, after the health of old Toby, and when he took his leave of him he presented him with twenty Napoleons. (Coins)"pg 70-71 Recollections of the Emperor Napoleon, on the Island of St. Helena by Lucia Elizabeth Balcombe abell 1873

(I wonder what would Toby have thought if he knew how the so called "Good man Bony" (Napoleon) treated the Haitians who were former slaves like himself.)

Sir Hudson Lowe the governor of St. Helena, ironically accused Napoleon of trying to win the favor of the blacks of St. Helena island and instigate a slave rebellion via Toby. When Barry O'Meara asked him to grant this favor the governor responded.

Sir Hudson Lowe- "You do not know the importance of what you ask; it is not Toby, whom General Bonaparte (Napoleon) wishes to set at liberty in order to please Miss Balcombe. He wishes to obtain the gratitude of the Negroes of the island. He wishes to do the same here as in St. Domingo (Haiti). I would not do what you ask for anything in the world; but do not tell him so, however but let him believe that I will submit his request to the council of the company," pg 187 History of the captivity of Napoleon

   
   
   
 Portrait of Napoleon talking to Toby through Las cases

The demographics of St. Helena during Napoleon's time were 500 whites and 300 blacks.

Napoleon's first wife Empress Josephine was believed by many to be a mulatto woman passing for white. (Josephine was born on the island of Martinique) Madame de Remunited snakest who was friends with Josephine says she covers her dark skin with white and red powder.

"Her (Josephine's) Complexion was rather dark, but with the help of red and white skillfully applied she remedied that defect;" pg 23 Memoirs of Madame de Rémunited snakest vol 2 1880

The movie Alex Haley's Queen hint at this

    1127-vlc-record-2020-07-30-01h10m39s-videoplayback-mp4.mp4
   
Napoleon had a Mulatto mistress named Fortunee Hamelin who was born in Haiti. She was also good friends with Empress Josephine

Countess Divoff describes her at a 1802 ball as "fat, black, and ugly, and has a bad reputation."

Prince Charles de clary et aldringen wrote "I expected to find her pretty; far from it. She is small, black, fat, with a big head, the nose of a negro, fat chubby face covered in makeup, and hair fighting between black, gray and pink-this last effect of heaven knows what kind of dye."

Felix Feuillet de Conches records a private conversation Napoleon had with Ennio Visconti about the portraits of Hannibal. Napoleon is reported to believe that Hannibal was a black man (Kmtyw).

"Napoleon I, one day visiting the Louvre, the Museum of the Antiques, passed in front of the bust which bears the name of the Carthaginian, and stopped. Turning to his numerous suite, he looked for Ennius Quirinus Visconti, whom his modesty held aside:... He asked him

Napoleon- Is this authentic?

Visconti- It is possible.

Visconti- the Romans had erected his statue in three public places in a city within which, alone of all the enemies of Rome, he had thrown a javelin; in addition, Caracalla, who esteemed him among the great captains, had also erected several statues for him. But all of this is well after Hannibal.

Napoleon- This effigy is not an Kmtyw. Furthermore, Hannibal was one-eyed and this is not. Are there medals of the time which confirm this bust?

Visconti- There are medals, also very posterior.

Napoleon- Well then it's done after the fact, I don't believe in it"

   Causeries dún Curieux: variétés dh́istoire et dàrt tirées d'un ..., Volume 1
   
By Félix Feuillet de Conches pg 421-422

(By Kmtyw, napoleon means black because he uses the word Kmtyw to describe the Haitians)

With these points in mind it would make sense why Toussaint trusted Napoleon to respect him as a General. However Napoleon betrayed Toussaint just like he did all the other blacks.

[Guest]

During the early years of Haiti there was a major slave revolt led by a black maroon named Polydor. In the year 1734 this rebellion was put down with the help of a black slave named Caesar.

   
   
   
   
Loix et constitutions des colonies Francoises de l'Amerique sous le vent by Médéric Louis Élie Moreau de Saint-Méry

[Guest]

More slave rebellions in Haiti before the revolution.

Around the year 1716 there was a black slave (Maroon) named Martin who escaped from his master and led several incursions on the French settlers of St Domingo (Haiti). The counsel eventually put a price on his head for his capture dead or alive. His rebellion lasted for years

   
   
Loix et constitutions des colonies françoises de l'Amérique sous le vent by Moreau de Saint-Méry vol 2

In the year 1726 there was another slave rebellion led by a Maroon named Colas called Jambes Coupees (because he had one of his legs cut off by his slave master as punishment) his rebellion lasted for 4 to 6 years.

   
   
   
Loix et constitutions des colonies françoises de l'Amérique sous le vent by Moreau de Saint-Méry vol 3

In the year 1691 there was a conspiracy of revolt by two black slaves named Janot Marin and Georges Dollo with a white indentured servant named Louis Blaise. When the conspiracy was found out, the two black slaves were buried alive while the white indentured servant was burned alive. There plan was to start the revolt when the french militia engaged the Spanish who were about to invade.

   
   
   
   
Loix et constitutions des colonies françoises de l'Amérique sous le vent by Moreau de Saint-Méry vol 1

[Guest]

The Reason why Toussaint decided to stay with France.

The reason why Toussaint chose not to break from France was because the French government offered him a promise to export emancipation to all slaves throughout the Americas under the French banner.  

Napoleon wrote to Toussaint after giving him the title of Captain General

"The different letters you wrote to me, the different proclamations you made, have been placed before my eyes. I charge the Minister of the Navy to send you the certificate of captain general of the French part of Saint Domingue. The government could not give you a greater mark of confidence. Use all your influence to maintain peace, to encourage agriculture. Discipline and organize the National Guards and the paid corps, so that the government may find in their courage and efforts one more way to triumph over our enemies. The Time, I hope, will not delay when a division of the army of Saint-Domingue (Haiti) will be able to contribute to enlarge, in your climates, the glory and the possessions of the Republic (France). I greet you affectionately."

Paris, 13 ventose an ix (4 mars 1801)

In the year 1799 Napoleon asked Toussaint to put on his Military banners "Brave Blacks remember that the French people alone recognize your liberty and the equality of your rights"

"The Arrete of Bonaparte, December 25, 1799

Art V. The words following, "Brave Blacks, remember that the French people alone recognize your liberty and the equality of your rights," will be inscribed in gold letters upon all the colors of the battalions of the national guard of the colony of Saint Domingo."

Toussaint refused to put this inscription on the banners of his army because all black people under French rule were not free. It would be a contradiction for the black Haitians to be fighting for a government that still holds blacks in slavery. Toussaint highlights that the Haitian people were not just looking out for their own freedom but for the freedom of all blacks. Vincent the colonel of engineers records Toussaint's response to this order.

Ce n'est pas une liberté de circonstance concédée à nous seuls que nous voulons ; c'est l'adoption du principe que tout homme né rouge, noir ou blanc, ne peut être la propriété de son semblable. Nous sommes libres aujourd'hui parce que nous sommes les plus forts. Le consul maintient l'esclavage à la Martinique et à Bourbon : nous serons aussi esclaves quand il sera le plus fort?

"It is not a liberty of circumstance conceded to us alone that we wish; it is the adoption absolute of the principle that no man, born red, black, or white can be the property of his fellow man. We are free today because we are the stronger. The consul (Napoleon) maintains slavery in Martinque and in Bourbon (Reunion); we will be slaves then, when he becomes the stronger." Toussaint

Observations du général du Génie Vincent, op. cit., p. 10.

(Bourbon Island which is modern day Reunion Island is near Madagascar. This shows you that Toussaint was not just looking out for the freedom of blacks in the Americas but for those of Kmt as well.)

Napoleon was seriously considering Toussaint's demands because he understood that an alliance with the blacks in Haiti would actually be more beneficial to France.

In his letter to Tallyrand (which is famous for his statement about why he chose to destroy the government of the blacks) he points out that a black empire would actually be more detrimental to England and more beneficial to France. (Napoleon knew that Toussaint would eventually declare independence after the conquest of the Americas.)

"That if I were obliged to postpone the expedition to another year, I would be obliged to recognize Toussaint, to give up Saint-Domingue and to constitute French blacks there, which undoubtedly would not make a speculation of money , but would be very advantageous to the Republic from the point of view of military power; That in the course I have taken to annihilate the government of the blacks in Santo Domingo, I have been guided less by considerations of trade and finance than by the necessity of suffocating in all parts of the world all kinds of germs of worry and unrest; but that it could not escape me that Saint-Domingue reconquered by the Whites would be for many years a weak point which would need the support of peace and the metropolis; That the freedom of the blacks recognized in Santo Domingo and legitimized by the government would, in every sense, make a point of support for the Republic in the new World; That one of the main benefits of peace in the present era, for England, was to be concluded at a time when the French government had not yet recognized the organization of Santo Domingo and therefore the power of the blacks; and that in this case, the scepter of the new world would, sooner or later, have fallen into the hands of blacks; that the shock which would result from it for England is incalculable, while the shock of the black empire, relatively to France, had been confused with that of the Revolution." Letter to Tallyrand November 13 1801

Correspondance de Napoléon 1er by Napoleon

This will be advantageous to France because the English navy will be too busy trying to fight against Toussaint and his Haitian army as they invade the English colonies to liberate the slaves there. Napoleon ultimately lost to the English because they had a superior Navy. Had Napoleon followed Toussaint's plan, he would have beat the English and been master of eureurasia.

When Napoleon was in exile, he expressed his regrets about his expedition of Haiti and names some of the people responsible for his decision which included his first wife Josephine (possibly a mulatto passing for white). Napoleon says that it was "the greatest folly he had ever committed". In so many words, Napoleon admitted that Toussaint had the best plan.

"The Saint Domingo business was a great piece of folly on my part. If I had succeeded, all it would have done would have been to enrich the de Noailles and the La Rochefoucaulds. I think that Josephine, a creole herself, had some influence in inducing me to undertake the expedition; but a wife who shares her husband's bed has always a certain influence over him. It was the greatest error in all my government I ever committed. I ought to have treated with the black leaders, as I would have done with the authorities in a province. I should have nominated Negro officers in regiments composed of soldiers of their race, and have let Toussaint L'Ouverture remain as Viceroy. I should not have sent French troops there. I ought to have left the blacks to govern themselves, though I might have sent them a few French officials, - a treasurer, for example, - and I ought to have let these men know that it would please me if they married colored wives. Thus the Negroes, not finding themselves over-awed by whites, would have acquired confidence in my system. The colony would have decreed the suppression of slavery. It is true that I might have lost Martinique, for the blacks there would have been free; but these changes would have been accepted without disorder. I had a plan for that, a plan that would have attached the slaves to the soil. Vincent, a colonel of engineers, was the only man who ever spoke sensibly to me about this expedition. He tried to dissuade me from it by showing me why it would be far better to treat with the Negroes than to try to destroy them. All that he prophesied took place.

Talks of Napoleon at St. Helena pg 112-113 

The reason why Toussaint didn't want to declare independence at that moment is because he knew that it would be just for Haiti and not for the other blacks of the Americas. The blacks of Haiti would be free but the blacks throughout the western hemisphere would still be slaves. Toussaint wanted the support of the French government to supply him with warships and weapons to carry out his anti-slavery conquest. Haiti after independence was an island nation that had no sizable navy to export the anti-slavery conquest.

Example: After Jean Jacques Dessalines led the Haitians to independence, he had to compromise with the neighboring eureurasiaan nations to not disturb their slave plantations. In his independence speech he said:

"However, we must see to it that the spirit of proselytism not destroy our work. We must allow our neighbors to breathe in peace. May they live peacefully under the rule of laws they made themselves and let us not, acting like revolutionary firebrands, consider ourselves the legislators of the Antilles (Caribbean), make our glory consist in troubling the repose of the neighboring islands. Unlike the one we inhabit, their isles weren't watered with the innocent blood of their inhabitants. They have no vengeance to take against the authority that protects them. Fortunate in not having known the ills that destroyed us, they can only offer wishes for our prosperity." Jean Jacques Dessalines January 1^st 1804

MÉMOIRES Pour Servir A L'HISTOIRE D'HAÏTI by Boisrond Tonnerre (I believe Dessalines understood that he had no choice but to agree to this)

Many in Britain and the United States knew this and that is why they supported Haitian independence. It was solely to protect their colonies and the system of slavery. They knew an independent Haiti would be no real threat to them in the long run because they would have no formidable Navy.?

Timothy Pickering explains how Haitian independence will help keep the British colonies and southern plantations safe from a black invasion.

"So that there will not, and ought not to be, any inducements to withdraw the blacks from the cultivation of the Island to navigation; and confined to their own island they will not be dangerous neighbors. Nothing is more clear than, if left to themselves (Independent), that the blacks of St. Domingo (Haiti) will be incompaAmwly less dangerous than if they remain the subjects of France; she could then form with them military corps of such strength in a future war, as no eureurasiaan or other white force could resist. France with an army of those black troops might conquer all the British Isles and put in jeopardy our southern states.  Of this Southern Members were convinced, and therefore cordially concurred in the policy of the independence of St. Domingo, if Toussaint and his followers will it." Timothy Pickering to Rufus king. Philadelphia, March 12, 1799.

The Life and Correspondence of Rufus King: Comprising His Letters ..., Volume 2

By Rufus King pg 557

Toussaint warned Napoleon about his folly and pointed out that he would lose the Americas if he invaded Haiti.

"Je souhaite bien ardemment que vous et mes lettres arriviez assez a tems pour faire changer de determination au premier consul et pour lui faire comprendre qu'en me perdant il perd les noirs; il perd non-seulment Saint-Domingue, mais encore toutes les colonies occidentales. Si Bonaparte est le premier homme en france, Toussaint est aussi le premier dans l'archipel des Antilles."

"Very ardently do I wish that you and my letters may arrive in time to make the First Consul (Napoleon) change his determination, and to make him sensible that in losing me he loses the blacks, - he loses not only Saint Domingo, but also all the western colonies. If Bonaparte is the first man in France, Toussaint is the first man in the Archipelago of the Antilles." Pg 57

Toussaint points out why he decided to stay in alliance with France and his loyalty to his race.

"J'allais traiter avec les Americains et les Anglais pour me procurer vingt mille noirs de la cote, mais je n'avais d'autre but que d'en faire des soldats pour la France.... Je connais la perfidie des Anglais....je ne leur ai aucune obligation des avis qu'ils me donnent sur l'expedition qui vient a saint-domingue....; je n'ai jamais crude leurs avis que je voulais bien en croire Non! Jamais je ne m'armerai pour eux! Je saisis mes armes pour la liberte de ma couleur que la France a seule proclamee, mais qu'elle n'a plus le droit de render esclave! Notre liberte ne lui appartient plus! Ce bien est a nous! Nous saurons la defender ou perir,"

"I was going to treat with the Americans and the English to procure me twenty thounited snakesnd blacks from the coast, but I had no other object than to make soldiers of them for France. I know the perfidy of the English. I am under no obligation to them for the information they give me as to the expedition coming to Saint Domingo. No! Never will I arm for them! I took up arms for the freedom of my color, which France alone proclaimed, but which she has no right to nullify. Our liberty is no longer in her hands; it is our own! We will defend it or perish." Pg 57-58

Memoires pour servir a l'histoire de la revolution de Saint ..., Volume 2

Pamphile Lacroix

[Kreative Force]

Thanks for this educating write up.

[Guest]

Interesting information about the Great warrior-priest named Francois Makandal

Judge Sébastien Jacques Courtin, the judge who oversaw Makandal's trial and condemned him to death, describes him as:

"And it must be admitted that F. Macandal was not an ordinary Negro. He had been a captain in his country. He had a sharp, confident and terrible look for Negroes, a quick, determined, superior gesture, such as the Negroes did not have, and although he was rather thin, he was very agile and of an uncommon physical strength. He became dangerous by the composition of his poisons. That's probably what gave him enough prestige in ensuring an inviolable secret from those who addressed him." Sébastien-Jacques Courtin: Memoires sommaire sur les prétendues pratiques..... 

According to primary source evidence, Makandal may not have lost a hand which is commonly believed.

The condemnation act of January 20, 1758, points out that Makandal held a torch with both hands.

"January 20, 1758, judgement the Negro Macandale to the stake. Macandale extracts from the records of La Cap superior Council.

"In compensation for that he (Makandal) would be condemned to make amends, naked in his shirt, holding in his hands a torch of burning wax, weighting two pounds, in front of the main door of the parish church of that city, where he would be brought by the executioner."

(Sebastian courtin who seen Makandal personally makes no mention of him being one handed.)

Historians may have confused Makandal with another rebellious Kmtyw who applied poison named Colas Jambes Coupee. Colas was a one legged maroon who warred with the French on the island using weapons and poisons. His main goal was to "abolish the colony" and liberate the island from the white French.

"Colas Jambes Coupees (cut leg), slave of Sieur Doze, well known for four to five years by his maroonings to the Spanish side, with seduction and kidnapping of other Negroes; chief of cabal bearing arms; highwayman, by day as well as by night, in the neighborhood of Bois-de-Lance and Morne a Mantegre, attacks whites, has several intelligence and secret correspondence to abolish the colonies; is a friend or accomplice involed in the cabals of cezar, jupiter, Louis and Cheri who were punished by the last torture: accused, among others, of spell and magic, for having many times escaped from irons and prisons and having poisoned several Negroes."

   
   
Makandal is believed to be an unorthodox Muslim. (Makandal, like many other West Kmtyw Muslims, fused traditional Kmtyw religions with Islam)

According to Sébastien Jacques Courtin, Makandal recited the shahada when he was being interogated. (ašhadu ʾan lā ʾilāha ʾilla -llāhu, wa-ʾašhadu ʾanna muḥammadan rasūlu –llāh)

Le sorcier qui le compose dit quelques paroles pendant son operation. F. Macandal dans son interrogatoire au Conseil a declare ces paroles qui ont paru tenir de l'idiome turc, et ou le mot alla, alla etait plusieurs fois repete, et lorsqu'il parlait en francais il a dit qu'il invoquait Dieu ou le Seigneur jesus-Christ.

"The sorcerer who composed it said a few words during his operation. F. Macandal in his interrogation to the Council emitted these words which seemed to derive from the Turkish idiom, and where the word alla, alla was several times repeated, and when he spoke in French he said he was invoking God or the Lord Jesus Christ" Sébastien-Jacques Courtin: Memoires sommaire sur les prétendues pratiques..... 

(Turkish idiom: Many eureurasiaans during this time used to call Islam the "Turkish religion" or "Turcism" because the Ottoman Empire was the largest Muslim power at that time.)

Makandal like most Kmtyw slaves during that time fused their original religion with Catholic Christianity. Allah is syncretized with God and Muhammed is syncretized with Jesus Christ. Makandal's intention was to hide his original religion behind Christian names. Similar to how Voodoo lwa Ezuli is syncretized with St. Mary and Ogun is syncretized with St. James the greater)

According to the anonymous work titled "Mercure de France: Makandal, Histoire Veritable", Makandal was said to have been born in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and could read and write aAmwic. (This Mercure de France account is without a doubt partially fiction)

Depuis environ vingt-cinq ans L'ilse de Saint Domingue fremit au nom seul de Makandal. Ne en Afrique, dans une de ces contrees qui sont adossees au mont Atlas, il etoit sans doute d'un tang assez illustre dans sa patrie, puisqu'il avoit recu une education bien plus soignee que celle qu'on donne ordinairement aux Negres. Il savoit lire & ecrire la langue aAmwe, & ce n'est pas le Seul Negre tombe par hazard dans l'esclavage, & conduit dans nos Colonies, qui ait eu le meme talent.

"It is not above twenty-five years ago, that the island of St. Domingo trembled at the single name of Makandal. Born in Kmt; in one of the countries at the foot of Mount Atlas, he was unquestionably of high rank; for his education had been attended with an assiduity not common among the Negroes. He could read and write the aAmwic language; nor was he the only Negro, fallen by chance into slavery, and conveyed to our colonies, who could boast of this talent." Mercure de France pg 102 -103

If this be true, then this will connect Makandal to the black troops of Muley Ismael. (Abid al Bukhari) Of course Muley Ismael was dead during Makandal's time but his black troops were still running Morocco. Perhaps Makandal was captain of a Salé Sea-rover ship and fell into slavery by being defeated at sea.

Makandal was not the greatest poisoner on the island, that title goes to Jean a Tassereau who was close friends with Makandal.

"A negro named Jean à Tassereau, partner and great friend of F. Macandal and the greatest poisoner than he, and who after having quarreled with F. Macandal had retired with his family in the mountains of Le Cap where he has been captured." Sébastien-Jacques Courtin: Memoires sommaire sur les prétendues pratiques.....?

Makandal's wife Brigitte is believed to be one of his main couriers.

According to Sebastien Jacquez Courtin, Marianne who was called the "chief of the poisoners of Le Cap" received poisons from Makandal's wife Brigitte.

"The negress Marianne who received poisons that Makandal sent her by Brigitte, his wife." Sébastien-Jacques Courtin: Memoires sommaire sur les prétendues pratiques..... 

The Lwa Maman Brigitte is believed to be Makandal's wife.

   
   
Many of Makandal's followers were Kmtyws of different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Assam, poisoner, a domestic on the LaPlaine plantation in Acul (Fulani)

Pompee, inciting to poison (Creole)

Jean of the Laplaine du Limbe residence, poisoner (Bambara)

A free unkown named from the Jola people

Guardian from the Laplaine residence (Bambara)

Marie Jeanne, saleswoman (Niamba)

Madeleine, saleswoman (Yoruba)

Petit Anse, a Yoruba man named Hauron

Coffi (Kofi) of the Laplaine residence, Poisoner (Akan?)

This shows you that Makandal was pro- black and a pan Kmtywist. Ethnicity and religion did not matter to him; his main goal was to liberate all black people from white domination.

When Makandal was being burned at the stake, he managed to escape for awhile by breaking his chains.

"He was tied up, with iron chains, to a post that was planted in the middle of the pyre. As soon as he felt the fire, he made frightful howls; but he made such prodigious efforts and superior to a man's strength, that the collar and the chain were detached from the post; so that he escaped from the fire, his body partially burned. The Marechaussee (colonial guards) and the inhabitants had the prudence to immediately disperse the Negroes who surrounded the square. All the unhappy people, in retreating, shouted aloud Francois Macandal was a sorcerer and incombustible; that he was right to tell them that no one was able to arrest him, and that as soon as one put his hand to him, he would transform into a Mosquito (Maringuoin). The executioner himself could not believe what he saw. But he threw himself upon the criminal; bound his feet and hands, and they threw him back into the inferno." Le Cap June 24, 1758 letter (The Mosquito is a reference to yellow fever which is carried by this insect) Relation d'une conspiration tramée par les negres : dans l'Isle de S. Domingue

   
   
Makandal's master plan for liberating the blacks from the white French was to poison the water supply of the French troops and then begin the revolt. After the execution of Makandal, his followers still tried to execute this plan. According to a Letter dated November 8 1758 these rebels were captured:

"The principle leaders of these rebels have been burned and, of late, eight others have been arrested at the source which supplies water to the military barracks; their plan was to inject poison in the canal that carries the water to the fountain and thereby kill off the troops who proved to be the only obstacle holding them back and preventing them from exterminating the whites."  Letter November 1758 written from Le cap.

source for the execution of Makandal

Macandale, chef des noirs révoltés, arrêt de condamnation par le Conseil supérieur du Cap-Français à Saint-Domingue 1758