Jean-Jacques Dessalines - Death and Legacy

Death and Legacy

Disaffected members of Dessalines' administration, including Alexandre Pétion and Henri Christophe, began a conspiracy to overthrow the Emperor. Dessalines was assassinated north of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, at Pont Larnage (now known as Pont-Rouge), on 17 October 1806 on his way to fight the rebels. His exact death is uncertain. Some historians claim that he was actually killed at Pétion's house at Rue l'Enterrement after a meeting to negotiate the power and the future of the young nation. Some reports say that he was arrested and was dealt a deadly blow to the head. Another report says he was ambushed and killed at first fire.

Yet another account recalls the brutal attack of his men onto him. It says he was shot at twice and hit once. Then his head was split open by a saber's blow, to finally be stabbed three times by a dagger. "The Tyrant is killed" was exclaimed from the crowd. The mob desecrated and disfigured his remains, which were abandoned on Government Square. A monument at the northern entrance of the Haitian capital marks the place where the Emperor was killed. After much resistance from the people to provide a proper burial, Défilée (Dédée Bazile), a black woman from a humble background, took the mutilated body of the Emperor to bury him.

Although reviled by generations of Haitians for his autocratic ways, by the beginning of the 20th century, Dessalines began to be reassessed as an icon of Haitian nationalism. The national anthem of Haiti, La Dessalinienne, is named in his honor, as is the city of Dessalines.

Dessalines was a great-grandfather of Cincinnatus Leconte, who served as President of Haiti from 1911 to 1912.