Hyacinthe Moïse
General Moïse (? - November 9, 1801), often referred to as Moyse in early writings, was the adopted nephew of Toussaint Louverture. He was executed on the orders of Toussaint on November 9, 1801.
See also
- The History and Present Condition of St. Domingo (1837) - Excerpt of 1837 book by John Brown, describing Moïse's relationship with Toussaint. (Moyse defies Toussaint)
- Tobias Lear letter to James Madison - 1801 letter in which the U.S. Consul in Saint-Domingue reports on a meeting in which Moïse participated.
Hyacinthe Moyse
M0YSE, Hyacinthe (moiz)" also known as general moyse", Haytian soldier, born in Hericourt, Santo Domingo, in 1769; died in Port au Prince, 25 December, 1801. He was a negro slave, the nephew of Toussaint L'Ouverture (q. v.), and among the first negroes who rebelled in 1790, joining one of those bands that, under Lempereur (q. v.) and Jean Francois, committed depredations throughout the country. He soon became a chief, and his courage won him many followers. On 28 March, 1792, he attacked at La Croix du Bouquet the whites under Breton de la Villaudrie, and obliged them to re-enter Port au Prince. This success caused a general uprising in the counties in the west and south. The army of Moyse increased every day, and he was preparing to march against Port au Prince, when Governor Blanchelande, resorting to diplomacy to quell the insurrection, decreed the enfranchisement of all the negroes that held a command in the insurgent parties, provided they should dismiss their followers. Many chiefs sent in their allegiance, but Moyse refused to disarm, and joined the forces of Jean Francois, who appointed him to the command of the county of Du Dondon, where the negroes, headed by Father La Haye, had risen. Moyse took an active part in the rebellion for several years, but always showed himself greatly superior to his followers and to most, of the other negro chiefs. In 1793 he learned to read and write. In 1794 he separated from Jean Francis, and, joining Toussaint L'Ouverture, fought for the French cause against the English invaders, whom he drove from the western counties, defeated in the battle of Vallieres in 1796, and finally compelled to leave the island in December, 1798. When Toussaint invaded the Spanish part of Santo Domingo, Moyse was appointed to the command of the right wing of the army. He defeated the Spanish on the banks of the river Nissa, and entered Santo Domingo with Toussaint, 2 January, 1801, but the latter relieved him from the government of that city, and sent him as general inspector of agriculture to northern Hayti. It has been said that Toussaint was jealous of the popularity of Moyse among the troops; and sought a pretext to disgrace him. Morse submitted at first, but later opened negotiations with Jean Frangois against Toussaint. A new rebellion began on 21 December, 1801, in northern Hayti, and, accusing Moyse of instigating it, Toussaint ordered his arrest, and condemned him to death without a trial. Moyse was executed with twenty-three of his followers.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, Copyright
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