ARTICLE - 205TH ANNIVERSARY - DESSALINES

205TH ANNIVERSARY OF JEAN-JACQUES DESSALINES
(Haiti Libre) -

This Monday, October 17, 2011, on the occasion of the ceremonies of Commemoration of the 205th anniversary of the death of the Founding Father of the Fatherland, the Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines (Jacques 1st), President of the Republic Michel Martelly, accompanied by government officials, ministers, senators... will travel to Pont Rouge (Chancerelles) at 7:00am for the laying of the wreath at the monument of Dessalines.

At 9:30am the Head of State will attend a Requiem Mass followed by a Te Deum to be sung in the church at Marchand-Dessalines. At the Place d'Armes of Marchand-Dessalines he will deliver a message for the occasion. A reception will also be offered in honor of the President of the Republic at the Sainte-Claire school...

Jean-Jacques Dessalines was born September 20, 1758.... During the disorders that led to the independence of the island, he became lieutenant for Toussaint Louverture in October 1802 and organized the mutiny of the army of Santo Domingo against Napoleon's expedition. He fought the mulatto general André Rigaud and French General Charles Leclerc. In 1803 he managed to defeat the French at the Battle of Vertières, and on January 1st, 1804 Dessalines proclaimed the independence of Haiti. He made himself, initially, Governor General for life, then first Emperor of Haiti (1804-1806) under the name of Jacques 1st. On October 17th, 1806, Jean-Jacques Dessalines was assassinated at Pont-Rouge.