Events

An Extended History of the Haitian Flag

French flag flew over the French colony of Santo Domingo for over a century until February 1803.

The leading Black, precursor of independence, Toussaint Louverture, adopted in 1798 the French tricolor.

In January 1801 he was appointed governor and leads the entire island, followed by the formation of 8 July 1801, becomes governor for life.

In June 1802, Toussaint Louverture was captured by Napoleon Bonaparte and deported to France where he died.

1803:

In February, Petite Riviere de l'Artibonite, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, leader of the insurgent blacks and Alexandre Petion, the mulatto leader, decided not to fight alongside the French. At the Congress of Arcahaie, May 18, 1803, Dessalines took away the white colonial emblem to give birth to the first Haitian flag symbolizing the union of blacks and mulattos in the fight for freedom. There he put the slogan "Freedom or Death." Dessalines was then appointed General in Chief of the Army of the insurgency. Catherine Flon, goddaughter of the wife of Dessalines, is responsible for sewing up the two bands, blue and red.

1804:

November 18, 1803, the surrender of French troops sealed Vertières Haiti's independence. On 1 January 1804, leaders of the Revolution decided to change the flag with the colors horizontally. This is the first official flag of the free and independent republic. The Constitution of 1843 confirms this flag horizontal bicolor (Article 192).

1805:

October 8, 1804, Dessalines proclaimed himself emperor under the name of Jacques 1. He then adopted, 20 May 1805, a new vertical red and black flag. These colors symbolize the words "Freedom" (red) or "Death" (black).

1806:

After the events of October 17, 1806 at Red Bridge, where Jean-Jacques Dessalines assassinated, the country for 14 years, is divided into two parts, first the North and secondly, the South and the West, governed respectively by Alexandre Petion and Henri Christophe. Alexandre Petion redraw the flag this year, including blue and red of 1804 by adding "The Union is strength" and a white square in the middle of which were placed the arms of the Republic adorned the cap of freedom (liberty cap). This flag waved over the National Palace for 158 years until 1964.

1811:

December 27, 1806, General Henri Christophe, was appointed president and is recognized by the North, Northwest and later, in 1807, the Artibonite. March 28, 1811, he proclaimed himself king under the name of Henry I (1811-1820). The Emperor retains the colors of the imperial flag of the Northern Kingdom (1805) but sliding the red stripe on the side of the mast in the middle, a shield with a phoenix topped with five gold stars on a blue background. A crown is placed over the Phoenix and in the circle, a Latin inscription former cinerebus nascitur "ashes, I shall be born." The kingdom of Henry I is abolished in 1818 following the conquest of the North by Alexandre Petion, president proclaimed March 19, 1807, and imposing the blue flag, red, horizontal. Jean-Pierre Boyer succeeded him October 8, 1820 but retains the same flag.

1822:

February 9, 1822, Jean-Pierre Boyer annexed the Spanish part of the island (now Dominican Republic) that a few months ago, November 30, 1821, proclaimed its independence from Spain under the name of "Republica del Haiti espanol "" Republic of Haiti Spanish "and parallel, its union with Gran Colombia. The flag of the Republic of Haiti Spaniard is hoisted from the first weeks of 1822 but it is the flag of Great Colombia at the time. A Republic that Boyer was soon dissolved.

1849:

Attempt to rehabilitate the black flag and red, in 1844, is a failure. In 1847, Faustin Soulouque was elected president and in 1849 proclaimed himself emperor under the name of Faustin I (1849-1859). In his Constitution of 1849, he adopted the blue and red flag but replaces the arms with a crest. The Empire of Faustin first ends January 15, 1859 and the arms of the Republic recover their original position in the center of the flag.

1964:

Francois Duvalier, Papa Doc, was elected president in 1957 and 1960, seized all powers. In 1963 he founded the party. A new constitution was adopted May 25, 1964, which adopted the black flag and red. This is officially confirmed June 21, 1964. However, the Arms of the Republic are preserved. Duvalier died April 21, 1971 and was succeeded by his son Jean Claude, proclaimed president for life. Following a popular revolt, Jean Claude left power in February 1986.

1986:

On February 17, 1986, 10 days after the departure of Jean-Claude Duvalier, the nation adopts new blue and red which was ratified a year later, March 29, 1987, in the plebiscite on the constitution of 1987.