List of monarchs of Haiti

The monarchs of Haiti (French: monarques d'Haïti, Haitian Creole: Monak Ayiti) were the heads of state and rulers of Haiti on three non-consecutive occasions in the 19th century.

Monarchy of Haiti
Monarques d'Haïti (French) Monak Ayiti (Haitian Creole)
Imperial
Imperial coat of arms (1849–1859)
Longest reigning Henry I 28 March 1811–8 October 1820
Details
Style	His Royal Majesty His Imperial Majesty
First monarch	Jacques I (as Emperor)
Last monarch	Faustin I (as Emperor)
Formation	22 September 1804
Abolition	15 January 1859
Appointer	Elective[a] Hereditary

With complete independence achieved from France in 1804, Haiti became an independent monarchy as the First Empire of Haiti, under the rule of Haitian Revolution leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines as Emperor Jacques I. Under Jacques, Haiti became the first country in the Americas to permanently abolish slavery. However, his ordering the massacre of the remaining French population caused the death or escape of thousands. Implementing enforced plantation labor to boost the Haitian economy, Jacques was assassinated in 1806 by members of his own regime. Jacques' autocratic tendencies would be disdained for decades. Following Jacques' assassination, a power struggle divided the country in two, and by 1807 Haiti was governed by fellow revolutionary leaders Henri Christophe in the north and Alexandre Pétion in the south. Christophe instituted "mandatory labour" to defend against the French should they invade again, and to strengthen his authority, he formed the Kingdom of Haiti in 1811 with himself as King Henri I. Once again, the monarch's pursuit of authoritarian policies decimated their support. Henri's soldiers defected to his southern opponent, Jean-Pierre Boyer, who reunited Haiti when Henri, betrayed and fearing death, took his life on 8 October 1820. His son and heir, Jacques-Victor Henry, was assassinated ten days later.

The final revolutionary veteran to rise to lead Haiti was Faustin-Élie Soulouque, a general in the Haitian Army when he was appointed the country's seventh president in 1847. Soulouque accrued autocratic power, purged the elite from the army, filled administrative positions with loyalists, and created a private army and secret police. Soulouque declared the Second Empire of Haiti in 1849, after his proclamation as Emperor Faustin I, being formally coronated in 1852. Faustin's lack of success in attempting to reconquer the Dominican Republic sent his support into decline, and a revolution led by General Fabre Geffrard compelled Faustin to abdicate in 1859. Geffrard restored the republic as president, and the former emperor was exiled temporarily to Jamaica prior to his return to Haiti, where he died in 1867.

The period known as the Duvalier dynasty (1957–1986), was not a period of monarchy but of an authoritarian family dictatorship (hereditary dictatorship).

First Empire of Haiti (1804–1806)

Main article: First Empire of Haiti

Portrait	Coat of arms	Name (birth–death)	Reign			Title	Ref.
			Reign began	Reign ended	Time reigning
		Jacques I (1758–1806)	22 September 1804	17 October 1806 †	2 years, 25 days	Emperor of Haiti (Empereur d'Haïti)

Kingdom of Haiti (1811–1820)

Main article: Kingdom of Haiti

Portrait	Coat of arms	Name (birth–death)	Reign			Title	Ref.
			Reign began	Reign ended	Time reigning
		Henry I (1767–1820)	28 March 1811	8 October 1820 †	9 years, 194 days	King of Haiti (Roi d'Haïti)
		Henry II (1804–1820)	8 October 1820	18 October 1820 †	10 days	(Unproclaimed) King of Haiti (Roi d'Haïti)

Second Empire of Haiti (1849–1859)

Main article: Second Empire of Haiti

Portrait	Coat of arms	Name (birth–death)	Reign			Title	Ref.
			Reign began	Reign ended	Time reigning
		Faustin I (1782–1867)	26 August 1849	15 January 1859	9 years, 142 days	Emperor of Haiti (Empereur d'Haïti)

Kingdom of La Gonâve

Main article: Gonâve Island

Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Reign			Title	Ref.
		Reign began	Reign ended	Time reigning
	Ti Memenne (19th century –fl. 1929)	c. 1920s	1929		Queen of La Gonâve (Reine de La Gonâve)	[1][2]
	Faustin II (1896–1945)	18 July 1926	1929	2–3 years	King of La Gonâve (Roi de La Gonâve)	[1][2] [3][4] [5][6] [7]

Timeline

See also

• List of heads of state of Haiti
• List of Haitian royal consorts
• Crown of Faustin I

Notes

1. During the First Empire of Haiti.