Empire of Haiti

Infobox Former Country
native_name =
conventional_long_name = Empire of Haiti
common_name = Haiti|
continent = North America
region =
country = Haiti
era =
government_type = Monarchy
year_start = 1804
year_end = 1806
event_pre = Haitian Independence
date_pre = January 1, 1804
event_start =
date_start = September 22
event_end =
date_end = October 17
p1 = Saint-Domingue
flag_p1 = Flag_of_France.svg
s1 = State of Haiti
flag_s1 = Civil_Flag_of_Haiti_1964.pngs2 = Republic of Haiti
flag_s2 = Flag of Haiti 1806.png



image_map_caption = |
capital = Port-au-Prince
national_motto =
national_anthem =
common_languages =
religion =
currency =
leader1 = Jacques I
year_leader1 = 1804-1806
title_leader = Emperor

The Empire of Haiti was an elective monarchy in North America. Haiti had previously been the French colony of Saint-Domingue but on January 1, 1804 independence was declared. The Governor-General of Haiti, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, created the Empire on September 22, 1804 when he proclaimed himself Emperor Jacques I. On 6 October Emperor Jacques' coronation ceremony was held. The constitution of May 20, 1805 set out the way the Empire was to be governed with the country split into six military divisions with each general of the division to correspond directly with the Emperor or the general in chief who would be appointed by the Emperor. The constitution also set out the succession to the throne with the crown being elective with the reigning Emperor having the power to appoint his successor. The constitution also banned white people from owning property in the Empire.

Emperor Jacques I was assassinated on October 17, 1806 with two members of his administration Alexandre Pétion and Henri Christophe assuming power which led to a split in the country with Pétion leading the southern Republic of Haiti and Christophe leading the northern State of Haiti. Many years later, on August 26, 1849, President Faustin Soulouque re-established an Empire in Haiti which would last until January 15, 1859.

References

*" [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/Flags/ht-hist.html#1806 Flags of the World: Haiti] "
* [http://www.webster.edu/~corbetre/haiti/history/earlyhaiti/1805-const.htm Haiti's Imperial constitution]
* [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Haiti.htm Worldstatesmen]