A letter from February 1810, bear the bold and distinctive signature of Henry Christophe, as President and General of the Forces of the Land and Sea of the State of Haiti. In the following year, 1811, Henri Christophe became King Henri I of Haiti and created the College of Arms that produced the wonderful and unique examples of heraldry that are illustrated in The Armorial of Haiti - Symbols of Nobility in the Reign of Henry Christophe.
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Very nice artifact. His signature is very impressive. I’ve read the biography of Touissant L’Ouverature, liberator of Haiti and whom Christophe was among his generals. It is a very interesting time period..
Cheers,
It should be remembered that Haiti has had three emperors and one king. The second emperor being Faustin-Élie Soulouque who was proclaimed Emperor of Haiti on 25 August 1849, under the reignal name of Faustin I. In the Constitution of 20 September 1849, it was provided that imperial power would be hereditary. According to the powers granted to him by the Constitution, Faustin I created a corps of nobility that included 4 princes, 59 Dukes, 2 Marquises, 99 Counts, 215 Barons, 30 hereditary knights and 400 untitled nobles, all of whom had coats-of-arms. A popular revolution forced him into exile on 15 January 1859.
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Emperor Faustin I in his coronation regalia.
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The coat-of-arms of Emperor Faustin I of Haiti, with the Imperial and Military Order of the Cross of Saint Faustin pendant below.
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The badge of Emperor Faustin I
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