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Acte écrit de Toussaint Louverture contre l'insurrection de 1801

Toussaint Louverture · 1801

A proclamation Toussaint Louverture issued after the 1801 uprising led by his nephew General Moïse, defending his record and his use of force.

Toussaint issued this proclamation defending his record after executing his own nephew, General Moïse, for leading an uprising.

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Handwritten manuscript page in French headed 'Extrait des Nouvelles Officielles, du Journal du Soir, Courrier de la République française', dated 'Du Cap-Français, le 5 frimaire', with the heading 'Au Nom de la Colonie Française de Saint-Domingue, Toussaint Louverture, Gouverneur de Saint-Domingue'. The text begins 'Depuis la révolution'.
Proclamation by Toussaint Louverture after the 1801 insurrection of General Moïse, published in the Journal du Soir.

About this source

What it is

This is a handwritten manuscript page, published as an extract in a French newspaper, headed with Toussaint Louverture's title as Governor of Saint-Domingue. Dated in the revolutionary calendar, it was issued from Cap-Français after the 1801 uprising led by General Moïse, Toussaint's nephew and, like him, a former slave of the Habitation Bréda.

Why it matters

In the proclamation Toussaint defends his conduct since the revolution, claiming he fought with courage and justice and tried to spare lives even among his enemies. The document is linked to a harsh episode: Toussaint had Moïse executed for leading the revolt, showing how firmly he enforced order even against his own family to maintain control of the colony.

Look closer

  • How does Toussaint describe his own conduct in this text, and why might he want to present himself this way publicly?
  • What does the fact that he had his own nephew executed tell you about the pressures he faced as a leader?
  • Why do you think this proclamation was published in a French newspaper?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Toussaint Louverture on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Book cover in green, pink, red, blue, black and orange marbled paper with a black spine on the left. A white label at top left shows handwritten call numbers 'Lk 554' and 'g°'. Text at bottom reads 'Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France'.Document

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Constitution républicaine des colonies française de Saint-Domaingue

Toussaint Louverture · 1801

Title page of a book, a scan of a yellowed printed page reading 'Mémoires du Général Toussaint-L'Ouverture, écrits par lui-même', with a publisher's ornament and 'Paris, Pagnerre, Libraire-Éditeur, 1853' at the bottom. The book is attributed to Saint-Remy, not handwritten manuscript.Book

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Mémoires du Général Toussaint-L'Ouverture écrits par lui-même

Toussaint Louverture · 1853 (text written 1802)

Painted portrait of a man in a dark-blue and red military uniform with gold epaulettes, a white sash with gold stars, and white trousers. He holds a folded paper in his right hand and stands before a stormy blue sky and dark mountains, with a sword hilt visible at his left side.Painting

Secondary source

Général Toussaint Louverture

19th century

Sepia-toned engraving of a standing man in a black top hat with a tall plume, a dark military-style coat with chevron-patterned sleeves, and a sash at the waist. He holds a folded paper in one hand and a curved sabre in the other. Behind him are a fortified hillside, a small building on top, palm trees, and a second figure in uniform with a plumed hat.Painting

Secondary source

19th century engraving of L'Ouverture

J. Barlow, after a sketch by Marcus Rainsford · 19th century

Sepia engraving of a scene in a tropical landscape: a tall officer in a plumed hat and uniform stands center, receiving a letter from a man in a long coat at right, while a woman in a long dress, children, and other figures gather around, with palm fronds and trees behind.Painting

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Toussaint Louverture reçoit une lettre du Premier Consul

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