The slaves who defeated Napoleon

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 2 December 2020

⏱️ 12 minutes

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Summary

The first successful slave uprising in modern times happened in present-day Haiti. Former slave, Toussaint Louverture, forced the French colony to abolish slavery in 1794. The rebellion sent shock waves across America and Europe and made its leader famous around the world. France eventually lost its colony completely when its great military leader, Napoleon, was defeated by the former slaves. They then created the world's first black republic, which they named 'Haiti' from the indigenous Taino language. Claire Bowes has been speaking to Sudhir Hazareesingh, who's written a biography of Toussaint Louverture.

Image: Toussaint Louverture - portrait after lithograph by Delpech. Courtesy of Culture Club/Getty Images

Transcript

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0:00.0	Just before this BBC podcast gets underway, here's something you may not know.
0:04.7	My name's Linda Davies and I Commission Podcasts for BBC Sounds.
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0:40.0	Hello and thanks for downloading the Witness History podcast from the BBC World Service with me Clerbos.
0:47.0	Today we're remembering the first successful slave uprising in modern times, which sent shock waves across America and Europe.
0:56.0	The rebellion in 1791 led to the creation of the first Black Republic in the world.
1:02.0	It's the story of Tucson du Vature and the birth of Haiti.
1:07.0	I have been a slave, I am willing to own it, but I have never a slave I am willing to own it but I have never received reproaches from my
1:16.0	masters I have neglected nothing for the welfare of the island I have robbed myself of
1:21.8	rest to contribute to it I have robbed myself of rest to contribute to it. I have sacrificed everything for it.
1:27.0	At first glance, Tucson Louverture was an unlikely revolutionary. He was in his 50s and a freed slave when he first turned against
1:35.4	his former masters. But within a few years he'd found worldwide respect and had even written
1:41.4	his country's first constitution.
1:43.0	The colony of which I was commander enjoyed the greatest tranquility.
1:47.0	Agriculture and commerce flourished there.
1:50.0	The island had attained a degree of splendour which it had never before seen and all this, I dare to say it, was my work.
1:57.0	He was someone who had a very engaging personality. He was perfectly at home with a wealthy white planter who was born in France, but he could just as easily talk and converse with an African-born slave.
2:11.0	Sudir Hazra Singh is author of Black Spartacus, the epic life of Toussaint Louverture.
2:17.2	So Toussaint was a man of exceptional ability, remarkable intelligence, had a phenomenal memory, and it was on that basis that he
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