Statecraft & Independence
Landmark
Henri Christophe
1767 – 1820
King of northern Haiti and builder of the Citadelle
Landmark is level 2 of 4 in the Haiti Hall of Fame: a first that opened a door, or the pre-eminent figure of their generation in this country. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
A revolutionary general who ruled the north of Haiti as president and then as King Henri I from 1807 to 1820.
Christophe built the Citadelle Laferrière, the largest fortress in the Americas, and the Sans-Souci Palace, both now a World Heritage Site. His rule was efficient and harsh; he took his own life during a revolt in 1820.
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