The Story Behind the Triumph To Tragedy Series of Historic Novels
Jean-Baptiste Chavannes inspired the march towards freedom
Book Four begins on January 1st, 1804, the beginning of a new era for the island of Ayiti, (spelling later changed to Haiti). After 13 years of constant turmoil and war sparked by the first insurrection led by Vincent Oge and Jean-Baptiste Chavannes in 1790, the island was finally on the brink of freedom in the precursor French colony of Saint Domingue. Oge's motivations were rooted in gaining voting rights for the Gens de Couleur, while Chavannes fought for true abolition and the liberation of all slaves. However, their revolution would ultimately fail and cost them their lives. In his final moments, Chavannes called for all slaves to rise and fight for their freedom.
No one can say for certain if this call to arms was the defining moment that sparked the Haitian Revolution, but it cannot be denied that August of 1791 ushered in a pivotal event. The sound of drums filled the air as voices chanted and danced around ceremonial fires, igniting a fire within the hearts of those who had been enslaved. A voodoo ceremony led by Oungan Boukman and Mambo Priestess Cecile Fatimah empowered 80,000 slaves from the Plaine du Nord to rise against their oppressors. This was only the beginning of a long and bloody battle for
Toussaint Louverture, perhaps one of the most incredible generals of the era
freedom and independence that would shape the history of Haiti forever.
Over thirteen tumultuous years, the land underwent a series of unprecedented events that would forever shape its destiny. A fierce internal revolution with the French led to an invasion and subsequent expulsion by the British and Spanish forces. This was followed by a brutal civil war, and finally an invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte in an attempt to re-enslave the people of African descent who had fought so fiercely for their freedom.
Amidst this chaotic chain of events, emerged a quartet of founding fathers: Toussaint Louverture, who never sought complete independence from France but instead desired an autonomous colony that could govern itself and freely trade with any nation. He rose to become head of the military and Governor General of the colony, leading his army against General Charles Leclerc's occupation forces until he was ultimately captured and put to death in a French prison.
General Jean-Jacques Dessalines vanquished the army of Napoleon
After Louverture's death, Jean-Jacques Dessalines took up the mantle and assembled a mighty army of 40,000 men and women organized into divisions. They successfully defeated the French army and declared Haiti a free nation. Dessalines was joined by two other notable generals and also considered as founding fathers, Henry Christophe and Alexandre Petion.
As the years passed, the Bayard family deftly navigated their personal lives, business endeavors, and the ever-shifting political landscape. In a world where death and destruction loomed at every turn, they not only survived but thrived, determined to carve out their success despite all odds. Their days were filled with calculated risks and strategic moves, each one bringing them closer to their ultimate goal of prosperity in a time of chaos.
The Clash of Pétion and Christophe
Book Four opens on New Year's Day, in three different cities - Cap Français, Gonaives, and Port Républicain - where our main characters and principal protagonist begin to navigate their way through the aftermath of liberation in their newly named country, Ayiti. As they strive to establish stability and peace in their homeland, they will soon realize that this may be even more challenging than fighting for their freedom.