Armée Indigène
The Indigenous Army (French: Armée Indigène; Haitian Creole: Lame Endijèn), also known as the Army of Saint-Domingue (French: Armée de Saint-Domingue) was the name bestowed to the coalition of anti-slavery men and women who fought in the Haitian Revolution in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). Encompassing both black slaves, maroons, and affranchis (black and mulatto freedmen alike), the rebels were not officially titled the Armée indigène until January 1803, under the leadership of then-general Jean-Jacques Dessalines. Predated by insurrectionists such as François Mackandal, Vincent Ogé and Dutty Boukman, Toussaint Louverture, succeeded by Dessalines, led, organized, and consolidated the rebellion. The now full-fledged fighting force utilized its manpower advantage and strategic capacity to overwhelm French troops, ensuring the Haitian Revolution was the most successful of its kind.
| Armée indigène | |
|---|---|
Jean-Jacques Dessalines Coat of arms | |
| Active | August 1791 – 1915 |
| Country | Haiti |
| Allegiance | Saint-Domingue (1791–1803) Haiti (1804–1915) |
| Type | Land forces |
| Size | Approximately 160,000 (including volunteers) |
| Motto(s) | Liberté ou la Mort |
| Colors | Le Bicolore |
| March | Grenadiers a l'assaut! |
| Engagements | Battle of Croix-des-Bouquets 1st Siege of Port-au-Prince Battle of Cap-Français (1793) Capture of Fort-Dauphin (1794) Battle of the Acul Battle of Gonaïves Battle of Port-Républicain Battle of Saint-Raphaël Battle of Jean-Rabel War of Knives Saint-Domingue expedition Battle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres Battle of Crête-à-Pierrot 2nd Siege of Port-au-Prince (1803) Blockade of Saint-Domingue Action of 28 June 1803 (Môle-Saint-Nicolas) Battle of Vertières |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-chief | Toussaint Louverture (1791-1802) Jean-Jacques Dessalines (1803–06) |
| Notable commanders | Alexandre Pétion Henri Christophe François Capois Étienne Élie Gerin Magloire Ambroise Jacques Maurepas Sanité Belair Augustin Clerveaux |