Second Empire of Haiti

The Second Haitian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Haiti (French: Empire d'Haïti, Haitian Creole: Anpi an Ayiti) was a state which existed from 1849 to 1859. It was established by the then-President, former slave Faustin Soulouque, who, inspired by Napoleon I, declared himself Emperor Faustin I of Haiti on August 26, 1849 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Port-au-Prince. Faustin's unsuccessful invasions in attempt to reconquer the Dominican Republic (in 1849, 1850, 1855 and 1856), which seceded from Haiti in 1844, undermined his control over the country.

In 1858 a revolution began, led by General Fabre Geffrard, Duke of Tabara. In December of that year, Geffrard defeated the Imperial Army and seized control of most of the country. As a result the Emperor abdicated his throne on 15 January 1859. Refused aid by the French Legation, Faustin was taken into exile aboard a British warship on 22 January 1859. General Geffrard succeeded him as President. Soon afterwards, the Emperor and his family arrived in Kingston, Jamaica, where they remained for several years. Allowed to return to Haiti, Faustin died at Petit-Goâve on 6 August 1867 and was buried at Fort Soulouque.