Chronology of Haitian History

Assembled by Bob Corbett, 27 October 1995

1492

Dec. 5. Columbus lands at Mole St. Nicholas (Paquin)

Dec. 24. Santa Maria sank off coast of Cap Haitien. (Kreiger)

Dec. Columbus settled La Navidad with refuse from Santa Maria.

1493

Jan. 14. First armed conflict with Ciguayos. (Kreiger, 477).

1495

Battle of Santo Cerro, end of effective Indian resistance. (B-Smith)

1505

Sugar is introduced to Hispaniola from the Canary Islands (Sugar by Plant)

1510

First slaves brought to Hispaniola by the Portuguese mostly from W. Africa (respresenting such tribal groups as the Ibos, Senegalese, Bambaras, Aradas, Congolese, and Dambas.

1508

Spain send first official cargo of African slaves to New World. (Paquin)

1586

Sir Francis Drake captured Santo Domingo and held it for a month. (Korngold).

1629

First French settlers on Isle de la Tortue and along northern coast around Port de Paix; refugees from St. Christophe

1659

France gains control of Tortuga Island, off the mainland of the western part of Hispaniola (Sugar by Plant)

1670

Louis XIV authorizes the French slave trade in Saint-Domingue. (B-Smith)

1685

Publication of the CODE NOIR. (Sugar by Plant)

1697

Sept. 20. (Heinl) Treaty of Ryswick. Spain recognizes France’s claim to Western St. Domingue. (Paquin)

1705

(About) Sugar cultivation on massive scale begins in colony, changing its economic role in the French empire profoundly.

1749

Port-au-Prince founded. (B-Smith)

1757

Macandal leads insurrection against the French (Paquin)

1758

Macandal captured and executed at Cap Francois (Paquin)

1764

Jesuits expelled from Haiti (Heinl, p. 26, note 20)

1765

(??) Treaty ending the Seven Years’ War. France gives up Canada to England but keeps Haiti.

1760s

coffee production becomes economically important.

1779

France sends troops from St. Domingue to support Americans in War of Independence. Troops fight at

1788

Le Jeune Case: 14 black slaves brought documented accusations of abuse against white planter; case was dismissed out of fear of inciting whites.

1789

The Estates General in Paris admits white delegates from the colonies to the 3rd Estate.

1790

Oct. Oge and Chavannes take up arms against French in North. (Paquin)

1791

May 15. French National Assembly declares all free-born men of color eligible to be seated. (Paquin)

Aug. 14. Ceremony of Bois-Cayman. (Paquin)

Aug. 22. Revolt of slaves.

Sept. 11. Whites and mulattoes signed a concordat to give mulattos full citizenship. (Barskett)

Sept 24. The National Assembly rescinds the May 15 decree.

1792

April 4. Famous final decree of French Assembly giving all free black full citizenship. (Barskett)

1793

Aug. 29. Sonthonax decresss liberation of slaves. (Paquin)

Sept. British troops land in St. Domingue. (Paquin)

Sept. 19. Jeremie. + other places. (Barskett)

1794

Feb. 4. French freed the slaves. (Cooper, p. 7)

Feb. 5. Mixed delegation from St. Domingue seated at Paris National Convention. (Paquin)

April 6. Toussaint turned back to the French. (Korngold)

June 4. P-a-P fell to revolution. (Barskett)

1795

July 22. Spain and France signed a treaty giving France the Spanish part of the island. (Barskett)

1796

March 20. Villate arrested Laveaux. (Korngold)

March-April Toussaint marches into O Cap; is declared lieutenant governor by Laveaux. (Paquin)

May 11. 3rd Commission lands. Task: curb Toussaint’s power.

1797

March. Sonthonax appoints Toussaint commander- in-chief of French forces. (Paquin)

April 27. Toussaint forces Sonthonax out. (Korngold).

Nov. 5. Toussaint agrees to send his sons to France. (Korngold)

1798

March 27. General Hedouville landed. Wanted to divide Rigaud and Toussaint. (Korngold)

Aug. 31 British troops evacuate Mole. (Paquin)

Oct. 23 Toussaint enters Cap in triumph. Hedouville sailed for France. (Paquin)

1799

May 22. Louverture signs a tripartite treaty w/ US and Britain

June 13. Toussaint signed a treaty with Britain, including secret provisions. (Korngold)

1801

Jan. 26. Toussaint invades Santo Domingo. Declares slavery abolished. (Paquin)

July 1. New constitution promulgated. Toussaint declared governor general for life. St. D. was to be an independent French state. (Barskett)

1802

Feb. 1. Christophe refuses Leclerc permission to land at Cap; sets fire to town. (Paquin)

March 24. French win at Crete-a-Pierrot (B-Smith)

March. Leclerc re-introduces slavery. (Barskett)

June 7. Toussaint betrayed and sent to France. (James)

June. Yellow fever strikes French. Renewed hostilities. (Barskett)

Nov. 1. Leclerc died. General Rochambeau took over. (Barskett)

1803

April 7: Toussaint dies in captivity in France. (Paquin)

May. Britain recommenced war with France and blockaded Cape Francois. (Barskett)

May 18. At Arcahaie; Haitian flag is born. (Paquin)

Nov. 18. Haitian victory at Vertieres (B-Smith)

Nov. 19. Rochambeau surrendered. (Barskett)

Nov. 29. French left Haiti (James, 369)

1804

Jan. 1 Haitian independence declared by Dessalines at Gonaives.

Jan.-March Massacre of the French. (Paquin)

Oct. 8. Dessalines crowned Emperor Jacques I of Haiti. (Paquin)

1805

Feb. Dessalines launches unsuccessful invasion of Santo Domingo.(Paquin)

May 20. Dessalines ratifies Haiti’s first constitution. (Paquin)

1806

Oct. 17. Revolt against Dessalines. Emperor betrayed and killed at Pont-Rouge. (Paquin)

Dec. Haiti declared a republic. Christophe refuses presidency. (Paquin)

1807

Feb. 17. Christophe proclaimed president of newly created State of Haiti in North. (Paquin)

Feb. 17. Christophe’s constitution. (BArskett)

March 11. Petion elected president of republic of Haiti. (Paquin)

1808

Dec. 13. Santo Domingo reverted to Spain. (Heinl p. 5.)

1809

Nov. French left Samana, now only occupied Santo Domingo.

1810

July. French left Santo Domingo, finally out of S.D.

Nov. 2. Rigaud declared L’Etat du Sud. (Paquin)

1811

June 2. Christophe crowned King Henry I of Haiti. (Paquin)

1814

June. King Henry XVIII plans for a re-occupation of Haiti and re-enslavement of people. (Barskett)

Sept. French diplomat, Lavayasse, tried to get Christophe and Petion to recognize France. Neither will do so. (Barskett)

1815

Upon the return of Bonapart to France, Haiti again reject union.

1816

June 2. Petion declared president for life. (Paquin)

Summer. Louis XVIII again tried to get colonial status for Haiti. (BArskett)

1818

March 29. Death of Petion. (Paquin)

March 30. Boyer elected president for life. (Paquin)

1820

Oct. 8. Christophe takes his own life. (Paquin)

Oct. 26. Boyer enters Cap. Haiti reunited. (Paquin)

1821

Nov. 30. Santo Domingo became free under Caceres. (Heinl, p. 165.)

1822

Feb. 9. Haitian army reaches Ciudad Santo Domingo (Paquin) Boyer took it. (Heinl, p. 165.)

1822-44

Haitian Occupation of Santo Domingo (Sugar by Plant)

1825

April 17. Haitian independence recognized by France. (Paquin)

1826

Haitian Code Rural adopted. (Sugar by Plant)

1838

June 9. Treaty in which France recognizes Haiti’s final and complete independence. (Paquin)

1843

B. Ardouin publishes 11 volume work on Haitian history. (B-Smith)

March 13. Boyer abdicates. Provisional government headed by Riviere-Harard. (Paquin)

1844

Dominican independence declared for the first time, and slavery abolished in the eastern part of the island. (Sugar by Plant)

1844

March 10. Riviere-Herard invades Santo-Domingo. (Paquin)

April Piquet uprising in South. Acaau heads Armee Souffrante. (Paquin)

May 3. Riviere-Herard deposed. Guerrier sworn in a president. (Paquin)

1845

April 16. Council of State elects Pierrot president, following death of Guerrier. (Paquin)

1846

March 1. Pierrot deposed. Riche declared president. (Paquin)

1847

Publication of first volume on Haitian history by Thomas Madiou. (B-Smith)

March 1. Soulouque elected president following death of Riche on Feb. 27. (Paquin)

1848

April 16. Soulouque massacres in Port-au-Prince. (Paquin)

1849

March. Soulouque invades Santo Domingo. (Paquin)

Aug. 20. Soulouque proclaimed Emperor Faustin I. (Paquin)

1859

Jan. 15. Soulouque abdicates. (Paquin)

Jan. 18. Geffrard takes oath of office as president. (Paquin)

1860

March 28 Concordat between the Vatican and Haiti signed. (Paquin)

1862

June 5. United States recognizes Haiti. (Paquin)

1863

May. Salnave insurrection. (Paquin)

1864

Nov. US recognizes Haiti with a treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation

1865

Dominican independence declared for the second time. (Sugar by Plant)

1867

March 13. Fall of Geffrard (Paquin)

June 14. Salnave sworn in a president of Haiti. (Paquin)

1869

Guerre de Salnave or Guerre des Cacos. (Paquin) Palace blown up. Salnave flees. (Paquin)

1870

Jan. 15. Salnave tried, condemned and executed. (Paquin)

March 20. Nissage-Saget elected president. (Paquin)

1872

Feb. 9 National Palace burns to ground. (Paquin)

June 11. Germans seize Haitian navy in P-a-P harbor. (Paquin)

1874

June 12. Domingue succeeds Nissage-Saget. (Paquin)

1876

April 15. Domingue deposed (Paquin)

July 17. Boisrond-Canal elected president. (Paquin)

1879

July 17. Boisrond-Canal steps down. (Paquin)

1883

March 23. Boyer-Bazelais and followers land and seize Mirogoane. (Paquin)

Sept. 22-25. Bloody week. (Paquin)

1884

Jan. 8. Mirogoane falls to government troops. (Paquin)

1888

Aug. 10. Salomon steps down; sails for France. (Paquin)

Dec. 16. Legitime declared president. (Paquin)

1889

Oct. 17. Hippolyte sworn in as president after victory over Legitime. (Paquin)

1896

March 31. Simon Sam elected president following death of Hippolyte, March 24. (Paquin)

1902

May 12. Simon Sam abdicates. Mob uprising in P-a-P. (Paquin)

July 26 Firmin civil war erupts. (Paquin)

Sept. 6. Sinking of the Crete-a-Pierrot by German gunboat Panther at Gonaives. (Paquin)

Dec. 17. Nord Alexis acclaimed president. (Paquin)

1908

Dec. 20. Downfall of Nord Alexis. Antoine Simon elected president. (Paquin)

1911

Aug. 14 Antoine Simon deposed. Leconte president. (Paquin)

1912

Aug. 7. National Palace blown up. Leconte killed. (Paquin)

Aug. 12. August inaugurated as president. (Paquin)

1913

May 12. Death of Auguste. Oreste inaugurated. (Paquin)

1914

Jan. 27. Oreste resigns. (Paquin)

Feb. 8. Zamor elected president. (Paquin)

Nov. 7. Theodore elected president following departure of Zamor. (Paquin)

1915

Feb. 22. Theodore steps down. (Paquin)

March 22. Guillaume Sam takes oath of office as president. (Paquin)

July 27. Slaughter of political prisoners in penitentiary. Sam takes refuge in French embassy, is dragged out and killed by mob. (Paquin)

July 28. U.S. Marines land in Port-au-Prince. (Paquin)

Aug. 11. National Assembly elects Dartiguenave president.(Paquin)

Aug. 21. Americans take charge of Haitian customs houses. (Paquin)

Sept. Cacos revolt in the ARtibonite and the North. (Paquin)

Nov. 17-18. Cacos in the North defeated. (Paquin)

1916--1924

American occupation of the Dominican Republic (Sugar by Plant)

1918

Nov. Caco Rebellion in the North. (Paquin)

1919

Oct. 30-31. Death of Charlemagne Peralte. End of Caco war in the North. (Paquin)

1920

May 19. Benoit Batraville killed. End of Caco Rebellion in the Artibonite. (Paquin)

1922

Feb. 11. Russell appointed American high commissioner. (Paquin)

April 10. Borno elected president. (Paquin)

1928

Publication of Jean Price-Mars THUS SPOKE THE UNCLE, the origins of Haitian negritude.

1929

April 21. Roy assumes powers as provisional president. (Paquin)

Oct. Student strike at Damien followed by general strike. (Paquin)

Dec. 6. U.S. opens fire on unarmed peasants at Marchaterre. (B-Smith)

1930

General Trujillo assumes power in the Dominican Republic.(Sugar by Plant) (Roosevelt visit-----)

1934

Aug. 14. Eng of American occupation. (Paquin)

1937

Oct. Trujillo orders massacre of Haitian population in the Dominican Republic. (Paquin)

1941

May 15. Lescot succeeds Vincent. (Paquin)

Dec. 8. Haiti declares war on Japan, Germany, Italy. (Paquin)

1944

Publication of MASTERS OF THE DEW by Jacques Roumain. First major Haitian novel. (B-Smith)

1946

Jan. General strike; fall of Lescot; army assumes power.

Aug. 16. Estime elected president.

1949

Port-au-Prince International Exposition.

1950

May 10. Estime deposed. Army assumes power.

Dec. 6. Magloire inaugurated president.

1956

Dec. 12 Magloire fall and goes into exile. Pierre-Louis takes over as provisional president.

1957

Feb.--June. Ephemeral presidencies of Sylvain and Fignole.

Oct. 22. Duvalier inaugurated as president.

1958

July 28. Attempted invasion and takeover of palace thwarted.

1959

Aug. 13. Attempted Castroite invasion in South fails.

1963

April. Start of the Barbot insurrection.

Aug.--Sept. Cantave invasion attempt.

1964

April 1. Duvalier president for life. Duvalier changes flag from blue and red to black and red. (B-Smith)

1971

Jan. 22. Duvalier announces Jean-Claude will succeed him.

April 21. Death of Duvalier.

1978-1983

. Pig population killed in response to Asian Swine Flu.

1983

Pope John Paul II visits Haiti and publically criticizes Duvalier regime.

1986

Feb. 7. Jean-Claude Duvalier flees Haiti.

1987

March 29. New constitution ratified.

November 29. Massacre of voters; elections cancelled.

1988

Jan. 17. Election of Leslie Manigat as president of Haiti.

June 17. Manigat deposed. General Namphy becomes president.

Sept. 17. Namphy overthrown, General Prosper Avril becomes president.