1803 – Haitian Revolution: Death of Toussaint Louverture

On May 2, 1803, Toussaint Louverture, the brilliant leader of the Haitian Revolution, died in a French prison in Fort-de-Joux. Louverture had been betrayed by Napoleon’s forces after being lured into negotiations and deported to France. As the architect of the Haitian independence movement, Louverture transformed a slave uprising into the first successful revolution led by formerly enslaved people, paving the way for Haiti to become the first Black republic in 1804. Though he died before the final victory, his vision and strategy laid the foundation for independence. His death marked a turning point in colonial resistance movements and remains a symbol of liberation and betrayal. Toussaint’s legacy endures across the African diaspora as a representation of resilience, intellect, and uncompromising resistance to slavery.