Henri Christophe (Christophe Henri)

(1767-1820), and Henry I
Born in the British Antilles, October 6, 1767. In 1802, joined Jean Jacques Dessalines in its struggle for the independence of Haiti, was the commander of the Haitian army. After the assassination of Dessalines was appointed interim head of the Military Council of State. In 1806 it convened a constitutional assembly. As a result of rivalry between blacks and mulatskih tops in 1807 the country fell apart on the State of Haiti (includes the northern part of the island) under Christophe and the Republic of Haiti led by Alexander Petion (southern and western parts of the island). June 12, 1811 Christophe proclaimed himself King Henri I. To maintain the order established a regular army and the police. He organized the royal court in the European manner, and sent for governesses for their children from Philadelphia. At the top of the mountain near Cap-Haitien as their residence erected a fortress, remnants of which still causes amazement its giant size. Heavy forced labor and brutal forms of government have caused a popular uprising. Realizing the hopelessness of their situation, Christophe committed suicide in San Souci October 8, 1820. After the death of Christophe torn country united and further developed as a unified state.