Toussaint L'ouverture
Kuvakäsikirjoitus Teksti
- Toussaint L' overture was known as Toussaint Breda when he was a slave. His father taught him herbal medicine and due to his education and outstanding intelligence Toussaint was made coachman to his master. Toussaint was later promoted to the position of steward of the entire plantation’s livestock. A month after the revolt led by Boukman, Toussaint joined the revolutionaries. He enlisted as a physician in Jean Baptiste's regiment. Toussaint proved that he was an able commander and excellent horseman and because of his riding skills he was given the title "Centaur of the Savannas".
- The British and Spanish plans to invade St Domingue and restore slavery made Toussaint join the French forces. He changed his name from Toussaint Breda to Toussaint L’Overture (Opener of the Way). By 1795 Toussaint was in command of 20 000 black soldiers and his war against the British was a fight against slavery. By 1796, Toussaint’s word was law to the people of the north. Toussaint was able to get guns and ammunition for his army through the President of the United States of America, John Adams.
- After the British evacuated St Domingue, Toussaint defeated the slave owning mulattoes and the French in the west and south. The defeat of the mulattoes left Toussaint in full control of St Domingue and by 1799 the French government accepted Toussaint as master of St Domingue and appointed him as Governor General. Toussaint’s intention was never to kill or drive the whites out of St Domingue, he wanted freedom and equality for all the people of St Domingue but he knew that it was only a matter of time before the new ruler of France, Napoleon Bonaparte would send French troops to try and recapture France.
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Yli 30 miljoonaa kuvakäsikirjoitusta luotu