Histoire d’Haiti · Counternarratives Digital Archive

Title of the Document: Histoire d’Haiti
One Line Summary: This book is one of the first texts surrounding Haitian history, and is regarded as “as one of the most valuable documents in Haitian literature”9.
Author: Thomas Madiou
Date Created: 1847
Location: Bibliothèque national de France
Type of Document: Book
Publisher: impr. J. Courtois (Port-au-Prince)
Transcription: This book was written by Thomas Madiou, one of the first Haitian historians. He was born in
Haiti and went to France to study9. In Histoire d’Haiti, he mentions Romaine-la-Prophétesse,
indicating that he was a significant figure during the revolution. Notably, however, he states the
following: “St. Léger profilant de son succès , confia à un homme de couleur nommé Sinclar, le
commandement d’une division qui atteignit le Trou-Coffi, quartier général de Romaine, dispersa
sa bande et faillit le faire prisonnier. Dès lors Léogane fut délivré des fureurs de cet imposteur”10. This text explains the defeat of Rivière, and references the extreme violence that characterized
his troupe.
Related: Thomas Madiou; Romaine Rivière (1750-1792)
Provenance: Bibliothèque national de France