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Code Henry

The first comprehensive legal code of the Kingdom of Haiti, promulgated by King Henry Christophe on February 20, 1812 — a sovereign act of juridical self-determination just eight years after the world's only successful slave revolution produced an independent nation. This digital edition presents the complete Code in 3,004 articles spanning 8 laws and 67 titres — from the Loi Civile's 1,535 articles on personhood, marriage, property, and succession, to the Loi sur la Procédure Criminelle's 421 articles on investigation, confrontation, and royal clemency. Every article has been hand-extracted from 19th-century OCR, corrected, translated into English, and annotated with plain-language life lessons and scholarly notes. Browse in French, English, or Kreyòl Ayisyen. 3,004 articles · 8 laws · 3 languages · 213 years restored

3,004 articles in the Code Henry

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22
Article 22 Commercial Law · Des Intérêts
Commercial Law
Merchants and all others are forbidden from compounding interest with the capital.
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Merchants and all others are forbidden from compounding interest with the capital.

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Article 23 Commercial Law · Des Intérêts
Commercial Law
The interest recognized in this kingdom shall be six percent per year for cash advances, and six percent for merchandise.
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The interest recognized in this kingdom shall be six percent per year for cash advances, and six percent for merchandise.

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24
Article 24 Commercial Law · Des Intérêts
Commercial Law
Interest arising from commercial affairs shall run only from the day the title holder has duly obtained judgment, unless there are particular written agreements between...
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Interest arising from commercial affairs shall run only from the day the title holder has duly obtained judgment, unless there are particular written agreements between the contracting parties.

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Article 25 Commercial Law · Des Intérêts
Commercial Law
Interest on interest may not be charged under any pretext by merchants and others.
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Interest on interest may not be charged under any pretext by merchants and others.

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Article 26 Commercial Law · Des Intérêts
Commercial Law
Lending on pledge is forbidden, on penalty of return of the pledges without leaving the lender any right of indemnity or privilege on said pledges;...
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Lending on pledge is forbidden, on penalty of return of the pledges without leaving the lender any right of indemnity or privilege on said pledges; unless the pledge loan is established by a notarial or private act stating the sum lent and the items pledged, as prescribed by article 1410, Title XXXI of the Civil Law.

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Article 27 Commercial Law · Des Accaparemens
Commercial Law
All hoarding of essential goods, such as flour, biscuits, wine, vinegar, salted meats, cod, other salted fish, rice, dried vegetables, salt, candles, soap, is prohibited,...
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All hoarding of essential goods, such as flour, biscuits, wine, vinegar, salted meats, cod, other salted fish, rice, dried vegetables, salt, candles, soap, is prohibited, under penalty of confiscation and extraordinary prosecution against hoarders, who shall be considered monopolists and punished as such, if they purchased said goods before one full month has elapsed since the public opening of sale of said merchandise.

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Article 28 Commercial Law · Des Accaparemens
Commercial Law
Also prohibited is any hoarding whatsoever when it results from news of peace or war, unknown in the place where it occurs.
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Also prohibited is any hoarding whatsoever when it results from news of peace or war, unknown in the place where it occurs.

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Article 29 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
Partnership deeds shall be drawn up in writing before a notary or by private signature.
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Partnership deeds shall be drawn up in writing before a notary or by private signature.

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Article 30 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
They shall be governed by civil law, by the particular laws of commerce, and by the agreements of the parties.
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They shall be governed by civil law, by the particular laws of commerce, and by the agreements of the parties.

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Article 31 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
No testimonial evidence is admitted against the content of a partnership deed, even regarding what was allegedly said before, at the time of, or since...
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No testimonial evidence is admitted against the content of a partnership deed, even regarding what was allegedly said before, at the time of, or since the deed, even for a sum less than twenty-four gourdes.

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Article 32 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
No partnership may be dissolved without perfect agreement among the partners and a public and authentic declaration announcing the liquidation of the partnership's affairs.
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No partnership may be dissolved without perfect agreement among the partners and a public and authentic declaration announcing the liquidation of the partnership's affairs.

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Article 33 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
Death dissolves any partnership by operation of law, unless the heirs and surviving partners agree to continue it.
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Death dissolves any partnership by operation of law, unless the heirs and surviving partners agree to continue it.

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Article 34 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
There are two types of commercial partnerships, not including participation partnerships (for a single affair only): the first is the collective or ordinary partnership, and...
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There are two types of commercial partnerships, not including participation partnerships (for a single affair only): the first is the collective or ordinary partnership, and the second is the limited partnership (commandite). The collective partnership is formed by several persons pooling their property, talents, and industry; each partner's interest must be positively determined in the deed, proportional to contribution or by expressly motivated agreements. The limited partnership is formed by several, some contributing property, talents, and industry, and others contributing only a determined sum of money; each partner's interest is likewise fixed and motivated.

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35
Article 35 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
The collective partnership entails solidarity for all its members, and its trade name may only be under the partners' names. Conversely, the limited partnership does...
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The collective partnership entails solidarity for all its members, and its trade name may only be under the partners' names. Conversely, the limited partnership does not entail solidarity, because by its nature the limited partner's name is unknown, and in no case may he participate in losses beyond his contribution. This partnership is known only under the names of the managing partners.

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Article 36 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
Only the one who purchases merchandise is obligated to the seller. The same applies to sold merchandise; only the buyer has the right to make...
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Only the one who purchases merchandise is obligated to the seller. The same applies to sold merchandise; only the buyer has the right to make claims.

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Article 37 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
No partnership deed shall be valid unless signed by the partners or their agents, and unless it contains the names, surnames, qualities, and residences of...
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No partnership deed shall be valid unless signed by the partners or their agents, and unless it contains the names, surnames, qualities, and residences of the partners; any extraordinary clauses; and the time it is to begin and end; subject to a new deed for extension, which shall follow the same formalities.

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Article 38 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
Partnership deeds bearing changes of partners may not be executed until a reasonable time has elapsed allowing interested parties to have knowledge thereof, and no...
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Partnership deeds bearing changes of partners may not be executed until a reasonable time has elapsed allowing interested parties to have knowledge thereof, and no oppositions have been made by them.

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Article 39 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
Disputes arising between partners shall always be resolved by arbitration, even if this clause is not included in the partnership deed.
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Disputes arising between partners shall always be resolved by arbitration, even if this clause is not included in the partnership deed.

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Article 40 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
If the arbitrators cannot agree, they may appoint a super-arbitrator; if they cannot agree on the person, the admiralty judge may appoint one ex officio.
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If the arbitrators cannot agree, they may appoint a super-arbitrator; if they cannot agree on the person, the admiralty judge may appoint one ex officio.

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Article 41 Commercial Law · Des Sociétés
Commercial Law
The arbitrators shall take care to bind the parties by a private writing, by which they declare to submit to their decisions, under penalty of...
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The arbitrators shall take care to bind the parties by a private writing, by which they declare to submit to their decisions, under penalty of a forfeit proportional to the importance of the matter in dispute.