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History of Haiti |
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Pre-Columbian Haiti (before 1492) |
Captaincy General of Santo Domingo (1492–1625) |
Taíno genocide |
Saint-Domingue (1625–1804) |
First Empire of Haiti (1804–1806) |
North Haiti (1806–1820) |
South Haiti (1806–1820) |
Republic of Haiti (1820–1849) |
Second Empire of Haiti (1849–1859) |
Republic of Haiti (1859–1957) |
Duvalier dynasty (1957–1986) |
Anti-Duvalier protest movement |
Republic of Haiti (1986–present) |
Timeline |
Topics |
Haiti portal |
The origins of the military history of Haiti lie in the country's revolution. A decade of warfare produced a military cadre from which Haiti's early leaders emerged. Defeat of the French demonstrated Haiti's considerable strategic stamina and tactical capabilities. The armed forces, who had been united against the French, fragmented into warring regional factions. The military very soon took control of almost every aspect of Haitian life. Officers assumed responsibility for the administration of justice and for municipal management. According to a Haitian diplomat, the country was in its earlier days "an immense military camp." Without viable civilian institutions, Haiti was vulnerable to military personalities, who permanently shaped the nation's authoritarian, personalist, and coercive style of governance.