History Extra podcast Haiti's first and only king
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Sep 18, 2025 Marlene L. Daut, a Yale professor and author of "The First and Last King of Haiti," illuminates the gripping life of Henri Christophe, the only king of Haiti. She explores Christophe's journey from enslaved origins to a military leader during the Haitian Revolution. Daut discusses the tumult of the era, including Christophe's pivotal role in independence and his controversial reign marked by economic reforms and forced labor. Their conversation also delves into Christophe's complex legacy and his tragic end, highlighting the contradictions of his rule.
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From Enslaved Child To Revolutionary General
- Henri Christophe rose from likely enslaved beginnings to become a general in the Haitian Revolution and a founding leader of independent Haiti.
- His military rise and role in 1804 independence show social mobility amid revolutionary upheaval.
Why Saint-Domingue Was Exceptionally Brutal
- Saint-Domingue became the richest and most brutal French colony due to vast sugar production and mass importation of enslaved Africans.
- The extreme cruelty produced constant resistance, fugitivity and ultimately the 1791 uprising.
French Revolution Ideas Spark Local Radicalisation
- Free people of color imported revolutionary French ideas about rights, but the colony's violent repression radicalised enslaved people.
- Public brutality against free-color leaders helped spark the broader Black-led revolt in 1791.
