history and dates

Day of the ancestors and heroes of Independence
Day of Remembrance for the ancestors and heroes of Independence. These heroes
who, on January 1, 1804, swore "to the entire universe, to posterity, to ourselves,
to renounce France forever, and to die rather than live under its
domination.”
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See also: From the proclamation of Dessalines.

1908. Arrest of Louis Joseph Janvier, then a candidate in the municipal elections
from Port-au-Prince
Louis Joseph Janvier who had returned to Haiti after nearly three decades of absence
was later released and failed in the elections.
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See: Haitian notables: Louis Joseph Janvier

2017. Proclamation of the final results of the presidential elections on November 20, 2016
Published by the Provisional Electoral Council president by Léopold Bélanger on the site
of the Institution, these results made Jovenel Moise of PHTK, an entrepreneur and
a large-scale producer of bananas intended for export, the president
elected in the first round with 590,927 votes, or 55.60% of the vote.
He is therefore followed by Jude Célestin, the candidate of the Alternative League for Progress and
Haitian Emancipation (LAPEH), which obtained 207,988 votes (19.57% of the vote).
In third and fourth positions came respectively Jean-Charles Moïse de
the platform Pitit Dessalines, with 117,349 votes (11.04%), and Maryse Narcisse from
Fanmi Lavalas political party, with 95,765 votes (9.01%).

1800. Decree of Toussaint prohibiting any public demonstration of voodoo
The violation of this decree led to severe corporal punishment followed
incarceration.
"The corporal punishment consisted of making the condemned person run between two hedges
soldiers armed with rods until he succumbed to the blows."

1915. The American rear admiral, Caperton, received the order from the Minister of the Navy
from his country, Josephus Daniels, to travel to the West Indies to study the situation
from Haiti.
The situation in Haiti is becoming increasingly unstable, with nine presidents down
15 years old, a continual struggle between the mulattos and the black majority, a group of
peasants called Cacos and earning their living by participating in revolutions often
financed by funds from German businessmen living on the territory, the United States was very concerned. The US government then decided that
reforms in Haiti were essential to US security even if the
American financial interests in the republic were minimal. For this
government, control over spending, the reorganization of the armed forces. and
the support of customs were the only means to ensure this security.
This mission led to the occupation of the territory (1915-1934).

1801. Toussaint Louverture arrives in Santo Domingo:
At the head of a strong army, Toussaint Louverture and his brother Paul Louverture
arrive in Santo Domingo. Two weeks later, the governor of the
East Don Joaquin Garcia, who had been maintained despite the signing of the treaty of
Basel in 1795, surrendered and was driven out.

1995. Publication of the decree for the demobilization of the army of Haiti:
The demobilization of the "Armed Forces of Haiti" (FAD'H), then replaced by a
United Nations mission known as UNMIH did not raise any
popular protests. This institution created by the Americans during
the occupation (1915-1934) had become a force of repression. For 22 years, the
Haitian territory remained without military force until its virtual return on the 17th
November 2017 under the presidency of Jovenel Moïse (1968-2021).

 1946. Beginning of the Student Strike:
This strike initiated the fall of Elie Lescot.

1991. Attempted coup d'état orchestrated by Roger Lafontant:
Lafontant, a former minister of the Duvaliers, fled from the palace and forced the president
provisional, Ertha Pascal-Trouillot to read a message in which she stated
to resign. The supporters of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, newly elected president
(December 16, 1990) invaded the streets of Port-au-Prince and forced the Army
from Haiti to intervene and arrest Lafontant. The latter was assassinated on the night of the 29th
as of September 30, 1991.

1807. Henri Christophe raised the siege of the city of Port-au-Prince:
An assault ordered by Henri Christophe after holding Port-au-Prince in a state of
siege for nearly 8 days, failed miserably. Judging any other attack
futile, the commander of Cap-Haïtien decided to lift the siege and return home
him.

1954. Arrest of Daniel Fignolé, leader of the MOP and deputy:
Accused of plotting against the security of the state by government officials of
Paul Eugène Magloire, Fignolé and several members of parliament including the
Senators Rossini Pierre-Louis and Marcel Hérard, were apprehended and thrown in
prison. Fignolé will be released on the following April 14.

1961. Expulsion of Mgr. Rémy Augustin:
Became administrator of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, following the expulsion
of Bishop François Poirier, he was himself deported. With him, were also
expelled Father Jean-Baptiste Bettembourg, director of the Petit Séminaire Collège
Saint Martial and other priests.
 

1961. Closure of the Catholic daily La Phalange:
First-class newspaper and very popular for its honest editorials, it had,
before it closed, opened its columns to striking and non-voting students with
the expulsion of the prelates, including Bishop François Poirier, Archbishop of Portau-Prince, was fierce.

1982. Landing of Haitian rebels in the island of Turtle:
Defeated and the majority killed by government forces, it was said that these rebels
were led by Bernard Sansaricq. What was false, Sansaricq was the instigator
landing but was not part of it. He only set foot in Haiti after the departure of
Jean-Claude Duvalier, managed to be elected Senator in 1990, was the president of the
great body during the coup d'état in September 1991 and sided with the
putschists. After Aristide’s return in 1994, he returned to the United States, and as
In the time of the Duvaliers became an "opponent," because ignored by the class
Politics. On the eve of the 2016 American election, he once again worked against
the interests of the majority of the Haitian people.

1870. Arrest of President Sylvain Salnave.
Ousted from power by the Cacos, supported by the ruling class, Sylvain Salnave
flees in the direction of the Dominican Republic. Once past the border, he
was pursued and turned back by General Cabral in the direction of Anse à Pitre where he is
arrested. Taken to Port-au-Prince, he was shot on the ruins of the national palace.

1928. Amendments to the 1918 Constitution:
There were thirteen (13) amendments, mainly concerning the extension
from the presidential term.

1946. The cabinet of President Elie Lescot resigns:
Disturbances began on January 4, following the closure of the newspaper "La Ruche",
destabilized the government of President Elie Lescot who, to this day,
ignored the calls of protesters demanding his resignation. The next day, the army
monopolizes power.

1493. Christopher Columbus returns to Europe:
After his discoveries, Christopher Columbus sailed for Spain aboard
its two caravels (the Pinta and the Nina). The Santa was wrecked on December 24
1492.

1946. Removal of Elie Lescot:
Following the strikes and protests against his regime, the army took over from him
power through the "Military Executive Committee" composed of three members:
Colonel Frank Lavaud, president, the majors Antoine Lévelt and Paul Eugène Magloire
members. President Lescot will be kept prisoner until his departure for exile
January 14.

1999. Speaker Préval refers Parliament:
The 1995 electoral law providing for the end of the mandate of the members of the
46th Legislature on January 11, 1999, President Préval then decided to dissolve
the OPL-majority parliament, which led to a political crisis.

2010. A violent earthquake struck Haiti:
The earthquake, measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, struck Haiti at 16:53,
causing inestimable damage, mainly in Port-au-Prince, Pétion-Ville,
Léogâne, Jacmel. The victims were counted in hundreds of thousands. The palace
national, the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Port-au-Prince, the palace of ministries,
several other important buildings were destroyed.

Death in Port-au-Prince of former President Davilmar Théodore:
26th Haitian head of state, Davilmar Théofore managed, on November 7, 1914 to get
elected by the National Assembly after forcing his predecessor, Emmanuel
Oreste Zamor, to resign. His government lasted only three and 11 days.

1971. Amendments to the 1964 Constitution:
The thirteen amendments were mainly intended to facilitate appointment and proclamation.
of Jean-Claude Duvalier as the successor of his father, François Duvalier, in
reducing the minimum age of a president.

1946. Elie Lescot leaves for exile:
Under house arrest from the military coup (January 11), the former president
was allowed to leave Haiti. He first went to Miami where he stayed a few days
before traveling to Quebec.
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See: List of presidents of Haiti

1859. Faustin 1st gave up power:
Unable to overcome the insurrection that broke out in Gonaives on 22 December
1858, Faustin 1st, became president of Haiti in 1847 and was proclaimed
Emperor of Haiti two years later resigned himself to go into exile.
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See: 25 August 1846, 26 August 1849

1870. President Salnave is shot:
President of Haiti since June 14, 1867, his government was dominated by
Political crises and civil war. His execution took place on the ruins of his
palace.

1908. Landing of Firmin at Gonaives:
This event marked the beginning of the uprising of the Artibonite against the president
North Alexis.

1803. Resumption of Anse-à-Veau by the indigenous troops:
The commune of L'Anse, which had been occupied by expeditionary troops
since Memzelle’s submission, his commander was taken over by the general
Nicolas Geffrard (1767-1806). The French garrison was killed, but Bernard, his
Adjutant General, had time to flee.

1830. Spain claims the departments of the eastern part of Haiti:
The extraordinary ambassador of the king of Spain, Don Felipe Gonzalez
Fernandez, arrived in Port-au-Prince to request, on behalf of his country, the rebate
Departments of the East. Having failed, he left for Cuba on February 1st.

1844. Separation act signed in Santo Domingo by leaders of the party
Eastern Haiti:
This act was the prelude to the independence of the eastern part of the island. It was
an integral part of the Republic of Haiti from 1822, and throughout the entire administration
by Jean-Pierre Boyer.

2011. Jean-Claude Duvalier returns to Haiti after 25 years of exile.
Nearly 25 years after leaving the country (7 February 1986), Jean-Claude Duvalier,
the former life president of Haiti, who was in exile in France, returned to Haiti. We
claims that the Haitian authorities were caught off guard by this return
unannounced and with extremely explosive political charges.

1761. Birth of André Rigaud:
Born in Les Cayes of a white father and an African mother, André Rigaud received a
solid education in France. In 1795, he was raised to the rank of Brigadier-General in
at the same time as Toussaint (See: July 23, 1795). During the war of
Independence, he refused any tactical alliance with the former black slaves and
fiercely opposed Toussaint Louverture. He was deported to France by
last and returned to Saint Domingue with the expeditionary troops of Leclerc. He
will be sent back to France again in 1802 by the chief general.
Shortly after the declaration of independence, he declared himself in the service of the
France for any possible attempt to retake the former colony (Ibid. pp.
111-116). In 1810, he returned to Haiti, settled in Les Cayes and declared the southern region
independent of the regime of Port-au-Prince led by Alexandre Pétion. He returned
the soul on September 18, 1811.
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See: Letter from Rigaud to the Minister of the Navy and Colonies dated the 2nd
prairial an 10 (22 May 1802) in: The deportees of Saint-Domingue. p. 108]

See also: 18 June 1799; 13 March 1800; 7 April 1810

1988. Election of Leslie François Manigat to the first magistracy of the state.
While the elections of November 29 of the previous year had been sabotaged
by the executive, the National Council of Government, which had canceled them following the
massacre at a voting center located at Ruelle Vaillant (west of Port-au-Prince), a
the new Provisional Electoral Council, completely in his pay, was immediately put on

up and organized today’s general elections. The four most popular candidates
popular refused to take part, and the chair was awarded to the professor
François Leslie Manigat in the first round. His wife, Mirlande Manigat, obtained a
sits in the Senate of the Republic.
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See: Profile of Leslie François Manigat.

1993. Partial legislative elections organized by the putschist military
Organized by a council

1807. First appointment of the Senate of the Republic:
The senators who had transported their assizes to Léogâne during the siege of Portau-Prince, returned to Port-au-Prince on Christophe’s departure and named Pétion
commander of the Western Department, Gérin that of the South.

1859. Swearing of the oath by General Fabre Nicolas Geffrard before the Senate:
General Fabre Nicolas Geffrard, who restored the republic, had taken command of the
rebellion against Faustin Soulouque, besieged the capital in the early days of
January of this year and forced the Emperor Faustin I to withdraw from power and to
to take the path of exile. The Senators, who had survived the empire, made him the
Constitutional President of Haiti. The Constitution of 1846, after some
amendments had been reinstated.

1807. Appointment of Bruno Blanchet as Secretary:
This position conferred upon him the powers of the Chief Executive in the absence of the
President of the Republic. Let it be remembered that the Constitution of 1806
conferred this title on Henri Christophe, who had refused it, and that the Senate had not
still lean on a replacement.

2004. The Catholic bishops returned to a proposal for a solution to the crisis
that they had issued two months earlier:
This proposal issued on November 21 of the previous year and considered
as a reference by President Aristide and the international community,
had called for a "compromise" from all sectors involved in the crisis.
The church notes the difficulty of implementing its proposal as it has been
formulated,' the Episcopal Conference said in a statement read on
the antennas of Catholic radio, Radio Soleil, thus casting doubts on the
real desire of the power to seek an agreement and instead asking "each
actor to make a courageous and patriotic personal decision capable
to avoid an irreparable disaster in the country.”
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See: Episcopal Conference of Haiti

 1758. Mackandal perished at the stake:
Feared as well by the white settlers whom he poisoned and set on fire
the properties and plantations only by the blacks, whom he severely punished when they
making deals with the settlers, this chestnut was burned alive, after having escaped during
four years at the constabulary. His legend nevertheless remained engraved in the imagination
slaves.

1990. The provisional president, General Prosper Avril, declares a state of emergency:
This measure, which, according to the government, was taken to protect the gains
democratic against those who wanted to plunge the country into civil war,
should have lasted 30 days. But in the face of criticism of this decision, the
the government had to cancel the decree declaring a state of emergency for nine days
later.
The 1987 constitution, moreover, in articles 278 and 278-3, prohibited
president to declare a state of emergency unilaterally. Any declaration of this
gender was supposed to receive the approval of the National Assembly, which did not exist at that time.

 2002. Resignation of the Érestal government:
Subject to repeated attacks from several sectors of the country, the prime minister, Jean-Marie Chérestal, announced his resignation to President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in
a letter dated January 17. This resignation was accepted by the board of
ministers held on January 21.

1965. Inauguration of the Aéroport Mais Gâté.
Located about 8 km from the center of Port-au-Prince and called, at its inauguration,
François Duvalier Airport, it was renamed Maïs Gâte Airport, from the name of the
area where it is located, after the fall of Jean-Claude Duvalier. Aristide, during his
second presidency, renamed it "Aéroport Toussaint Louverture", from the name of the
precursor of our independence (Order of 4 April 2003).

1999. Opposition strike in the Préval government.
A strike declared to mark his opposition to the decision of the leader of
the state, René Préval, to enshrine the lapse of the 46th legislature. It was not
followed only partly.

1976. Death of Mgr. François Poirier
Born on November 2, 1904, Bishop François Poirier, a French prelate became archbishop
from Port-au-Prince on July 3, 1955. Accused of collusion with students
strikers and was expelled from the country in November 1960. To facilitate the talks
between the government of Duvalier and the Holy See, he resigned in 1966.

1971. François Duvalier appointed his son Jean-Claude Duvalier as his
successor.
In his speech at the beginning of the year, the president for life announced his
intention to propose as his successor "a citizen who has been able to follow closely
the affairs of government" and thus "capable of ensuring the sustainability of the
Revolution." That day, the Haitians discovered that this citizen was none other than
his son who, according to the 1964 Constitution in force, had not reached majority.
The ratification referendum was set for the 31st of the same month.

1856. Final defeat of Faustin Soulouque’s troops in the Dominican Republic.
After suffering a series of defeats in his attempt to win back the game
eastern of the island that had detached itself from Haiti in February 1844, Faustin’s army
Soulouque, then emperor of Haiti, tried a final invasion, this time in the
North by Dajabón. On her way to the Dominican capital, she was detained and
defeated at Sabana Larga (18°55'N 69°44'W) by the troops of General Franco Bidó.

 1956: Death of Cléante Desgraves-Valcin in Port-au-Prince
Poet, novelist and Haitian suffragette, Cléante Valcin, née Desgraves of a
American mother and a Haitian father, stood out above all through her actions in
in favor of Haitian women and her fight for their voting rights.
Ligue féminine de l'Action sociale and co-founder of the feminist newspaper Voix des
Women, she also left to posterity two novels (Cruelle Destinée; 1929.
La Blanche Négresse; 1934), a collection of poems (Fleurs et Pleurs; 1924) and
short stories published under the title Deux héroïnes (1989).

1908. Legislative elections.
From these elections, the deputies of the 26th legislature and members of the
electoral college for the formation of the list of candidates for the Senate. These were the
last elections held under the government of Nord Alexis.

1914. Resignation of President Michel Oreste
Michel Oreste, born in Jacmel on 8 April 1859, became president on 4 May 1913
thus replacing Tancrède Auguste, who had died two days earlier. He had to resign.
under the pressure of an insurrection.

2022. Protest by police officers after the murder of colleagues by armed gangs at
Liancourt.
Seven officers of the Haitian National Police (PNH) were killed on January 25 during
the three-pronged attack on a police station in Liancourt, in the Department of
the Artibonite by members of armed gangs. Civilians and police decided
to demonstrate publicly their anger by blocking several arteries in Port-au-Prince and forcibly entering the interior of Portau-Prince International Airport. The de facto prime minister, Ariel Henry, had just arrived from a trip in
Argentina. Some even went to the primature. The prime minister was able
benefit from the protection of the American chargé d'affaires in Haiti, Eric Stromayer.
This murder brought the number of killed in the national police force to 14 for this month alone.
from January and to 9 for the five days preceding the murder

1801. Triumphal entry of Toussaint in Santo Domingo.
Toussaint Louverture, governor general of the French part of Saint Domingue
made his triumphal entry in Santo Domingo at the head of some ten thousand
men and takes possession of it in the name of France.

1811. Arrival in Les Cayes of the insurgents from the 17th half-brigade.
This battalion stationed at Fonds Bleu in the district of Jérémie revolted.
against Rigaud, who ruled the South Peninsula after the split with the West. The
The miserable condition of the soldiers due to Rigaud’s contempt was one of the reasons
evoked by the insurgents to motivate their action. The latter’s authority was
morally drunk despite her victory.

1843. Appearance in the sky of Haiti of a long comet.
The sight of the comet terrorized Haitians. And some saw it in this sign from heaven.
an omen. After the fall of Jean-Pierre Boyer, some six weeks later they
Let’s talk about this comet again.

1962. Decisive vote in Haiti resulting in the expulsion of Cuba from the OAS.
During a special meeting of the hemispheric organization in Punta del Este
(Uruguay), it was decided to exclude Cuba from it, which had just embraced communism. The
Haitian Minister René Charlmers, who led the country’s delegation, received, from
President François Duvalier, the order to vote for exclusion. Of none
thought that Duvalier exchanged Haiti’s vote for economic aid that does not
never materialized. But Duvalier explained: "This vote given to Punta del Este
obviously represented a significant contribution to achieving the objectives of the
American government and was for us essentially
political." 

2017. Elections: Second round of the legislative elections and jousts for local authorities
electoral:
Last stage of an election marathon that began on August 25, 2015 and which was
disrupted at the beginning of 2016. The process was resumed in the spring of the
same year with the creation of a new electoral council.
On that day, the Haitian electorate was again called to elect nine senators, two
deputies to complete the two chambers, and the representatives of the communities
territorial (Asec, Casec, city delegates).
Despite the importance of these elections, there were very few voters
numerous.

1867. Birth of Ulrick Duvivier, Father.
Well-read and diplomat, Ulricj Duvivier, father, was born in Cap-Haïtien. He occupied
several in our diplomacy, including that of Secretary of State for Affairs
étangères under the government of Vilbrun Guillaume Sam, from ambassador to the
Havana and in Washington.

1961. Bishop Claudius Angenor was entrusted with the administration of the archbishopric of Portau-Prince.
The archbishopric was deprived of a titular following the expulsion of Bishop Remy
Augustin on January 9, 1961. Three years later, Bishop Angenor himself became the
target of François Duvalier’s government and was placed under house arrest
because he had, during a Te Deum, made mention of political prisoners.

1676. Death of Bertrand d'Ogéron, governor of Île de la Tortue:
Born in Rochefort sur Loire on March 19, 1613, Bertrand d'Ogéron after having been
captain in the Marine Regiment, embarked for the Antilles in 1657 and made
shipwreck in Saint-Domingue. He stayed there and became a buccaneer. Leader of the first
French establishment on the island, he organized the small colony composed
adventurers accustomed to living on the fringes of an organized society and therefore not inclined
to respect the laws. He passed away while in Paris trying to
to convince the authorities and particularly Colbert, minister of Louis XIV, about the
potentialities of the nascent colony.

1908. Summary execution of the opponents of President Nord Alexis who had
refugees at the French consulate in Saint Marc (Artibonite Department)

1971. Referendum on the nomination of Jean-Claude Duvalier as successor
from his father.
The ballots offered voters only one option: the "YES". The
the count yielded no discordant voices.

1991. Creation of the diocese of Fort Liberté.
The diocese is created from the division of the Archdiocese of Cap-Haitien. Father Hubert
Constant was named his bishop that same day.