Sanité Bélair

Suzanne Bélair, called Sanité Belair, (1781 – 5 October 1805), was an Haitian Freedom fighter and revolutionary, sergeant in the army of Toussaint Louverture.

Born an affranchi, she married Brigade commander and later general Charles Bélair in 1796. When she was taken captive by general Charles Leclerc, her husband turned himself over as well to avoid being separated from her. Both sentenced to death, her spouse was to be executed by fire squad and she by decapitation because of her sex. She watched Bélair's execution, were he calmly asked her to die bravely, and went to her own execution as calm as he, refusing to wear a blindfold.

Sanite Bélair is considered as one of the heroes of the Haitian revolution.

Litterature

 * Jomini, Antoine-Henri. (1842). Histoire critique et militaire des guerres de la Révolution. Brussels.

Image

 * Charles And Sanite Belair - Painting by Kimathi Donkor (2002).