General Henry Christophe is pictured with a new more flattering image on the 100 Gourdes front with one of his most enduring achievements, Citadelle Henry in Milot (Cap Haitien) on the back.

Christophe was born to slave parents on the island of Grenada on October 6th, 1757. He then moved to Cap-Français, North Haďti as a young boy. Christophe worked as a waiter and butcher and in 1778, volunteered to fight in Savannah, Georgia, in the US War of Independence. He became a lieutenant under Toussaint, in Haďti’s War of Independence. On 1.2.1802 he refused LeClerc permission to land at the Cap and then set the town on fire to prevent its use by the French. After the assassination of Dessalines, his main rival for the Presidency was Alexander Pétion, who agreed in 1806 to offer Christophe the Presidency with Pétion as head of the Senate. Because he deemed it a figurehead position with the real power in the Senate, Christophe refused. On 17.2.1807 he declared a new state of North Haďti and on 2.6.1811 was crowned King Henry 1st. Under his leadership, Christophe built the grand palace of San Souci at Milot and the Citadelle at La Ferriere. More importantly he was instrumental in re-establishing production of the sugar plantations in the north, which were destroyed during the war. This was done with great discipline almost to the point of slave-like conditions, creating unrest among the people many of whom left for the south.

After the death of Pétion on 29.3.1818 Jean-Pierre Boyer was elected President in the south. Boyer attacked the north enlisting many in Christophe’s army to join him. Due to a stroke Henry’s health was poor  and rather than be captured by Boyer, Christophe took his own life on 13.10.1818, thus ending a divided country.

General Jean-Jacques Dessalines appears on the 250 Gourdes front with Fort Décidé in Marchand on the back.

Called the Father of the Nation, Dessalines was said to have been born in 1758 as a slave in the area of Cormiers, near Grande-Riviere-du-Nord, Haďti. Some accounts indicate he was born in Guinea, West Africa. His first name was Jacques Duclos after the owner of the plantation. At age 30 he was sold to a freed black man named Dessalines. He took the name of Jean-Jacques Dessalines and learned carpentry under his new master. Serving as an officer in the French army he joined the revolution in 1791, fighting under Touissant L’Overture against the Spanish and British. When Touissant was captured he became the leader of all forces. He fought brilliantly against the French and with their defeat, independence was declared on Jan. 1, 1804, at Gonaďves. Dessalines was chosen governor for life and on 22.9.1804 he declared himself Emperor Jacques I. In attempting to rebuild the nation ravaged by war, he instituted harsh measures which were very unpopular. He was ambushed and killed on 17.10.1806.

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