Suddenly the resistance movement that began in 1791 with a series of slave rebellions on the island-though roiled by internal conflicts, shifting alliances, and the arrest and deportation of Louverture-was ignited.
Their purpose was to reinstate slavery, and reassert French control over the entire island after slave revolt leader Toussaint Louverture published an 1801 constitution proclaiming himself governor-general for life and codifying the abolishment of slavery.
Unauthorized use is prohibited.Īfter eight years of freedom, Black Guadeloupeans were now back in bondage.īlack fighters as well as those of mixed race-known across the Caribbean as mulatto-quickly realized that the mighty expedition of French troops deployed under the command of Bonaparte’s brother-in-law, Army General Charles Leclerc, weren’t in Saint-Domingue just to restore order.
