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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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21
Article 21 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
It is forbidden, under penalty of corporal punishment, for captains navigating under the kingdom's commissions to remove any effects or papers belonging to a captured...
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It is forbidden, under penalty of corporal punishment, for captains navigating under the kingdom's commissions to remove any effects or papers belonging to a captured vessel.

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22
Article 22 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
The pursued captain who has thrown papers overboard shall see his vessel and cargo condemned.
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The pursued captain who has thrown papers overboard shall see his vessel and cargo condemned.

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23
Article 23 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
Haitian vessels that have remained in enemy hands for twenty-four hours shall be deemed good prize for whoever recaptures them; but if recaptured before twenty-four...
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Haitian vessels that have remained in enemy hands for twenty-four hours shall be deemed good prize for whoever recaptures them; but if recaptured before twenty-four hours have elapsed, they and their cargo shall be returned to their owners, reserving one-third as indemnity for the vessel that freed them from the enemy.

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24
Article 24 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
Any vessel taken by the king's warships or privateers, recaptured by the enemy, and a third time retaken by the king's ships or privateers, shall...
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Any vessel taken by the king's warships or privateers, recaptured by the enemy, and a third time retaken by the king's ships or privateers, shall become the property of the last captor.

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25
Article 25 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
It is expressly forbidden to all officers, sailors, and soldiers to sink captured vessels; to disembark prisoners on deserted islands or remote coasts to conceal...
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It is expressly forbidden to all officers, sailors, and soldiers to sink captured vessels; to disembark prisoners on deserted islands or remote coasts to conceal the capture, under penalty of death.

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26
Article 26 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
It is likewise expressly forbidden to divert any prize effects, whether by concealing them on board their vessel or by furtively unloading them anywhere whatsoever,...
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It is likewise expressly forbidden to divert any prize effects, whether by concealing them on board their vessel or by furtively unloading them anywhere whatsoever, under penalty of losing their right to the prize and suffering corporal punishment.

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27
Article 27 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
Upon arrival in port, the capturing captain or his representative, the prize captain, must make his report to the admiralty, deliver the papers, and present...
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Upon arrival in port, the capturing captain or his representative, the prize captain, must make his report to the admiralty, deliver the papers, and present the prisoners; this report must contain all circumstances relating to the capture.

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28
Article 28 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
The captured captains and officers must be interrogated by the admiralty judge, assisted by the clerk, on the following questions: their country of birth and...
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The captured captains and officers must be interrogated by the admiralty judge, assisted by the clerk, on the following questions: their country of birth and residence; how long they have resided there; whether they posted bond to reside in the cities where they acquired citizenship; the names of their sureties; whether they have on board bills of lading, charter party, register, and crew roll; whether their bills of lading name the respective cargo owners; if not, why not; who owns the merchandise; who are the shippers; to whom it is consigned; who owns the vessel; how many voyages it has made; the departure date and port; the first destination and intended route; under what commission and passport it sails; whether the captain has an interest in the cargo and what it consists of; whether another vessel helped capture it; whether other vessels were in sight at capture; whether anyone on board threw papers overboard; whether there was pillage on board and who started it.

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29
Article 29 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
After the admiralty officers have received the declarations of the captors and the captured, they shall proceed to the vessel brought into port and verify...
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After the admiralty officers have received the declarations of the captors and the captured, they shall proceed to the vessel brought into port and verify the condition in which they find the chests, hatches, etc.

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30
Article 30 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
The official record of the admiralty officers shall be made in the presence of the captured officers, the captors, any claimants, and the outfitter, all...
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The official record of the admiralty officers shall be made in the presence of the captured officers, the captors, any claimants, and the outfitter, all of whom shall be called to sign. But if neither prisoners nor papers are found on board vessels brought as prizes, the captors shall be interrogated separately on all capture circumstances.

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31
Article 31 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
Experts shall furthermore be appointed to inspect both the vessel and cargo, to determine, if possible, from whom the prize was taken.
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Experts shall furthermore be appointed to inspect both the vessel and cargo, to determine, if possible, from whom the prize was taken.

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32
Article 32 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
But if it cannot be discovered from whom it was taken, a detailed inventory shall be made of both vessel and cargo. Everything shall be...
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But if it cannot be discovered from whom it was taken, a detailed inventory shall be made of both vessel and cargo. Everything shall be placed under guard, to be returned to the true owner, if he is not an enemy; upon his claim, which must be made within a year and a day, otherwise the prize shall be delivered to the captors.

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33
Article 33 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
Merchandise that can be preserved shall be deposited in the king's warehouses, under the responsibility of the warehouse keeper. Before delivery, one percent shall be...
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Merchandise that can be preserved shall be deposited in the king's warehouses, under the responsibility of the warehouse keeper. Before delivery, one percent shall be deducted. Those that cannot be preserved, and whose peril in remaining is well established, shall be sold at the request of interested parties and publicly awarded to the highest bidder, at the bar of the admiralty, in the presence of the king's prosecutor.

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34
Article 34 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
And if this request is not made, they shall likewise be sold, at the demand of the king's prosecutor, upon notorious proof of deterioration, after...
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And if this request is not made, they shall likewise be sold, at the demand of the king's prosecutor, upon notorious proof of deterioration, after three auction rounds, every three days.

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35
Article 35 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
The proceeds therefrom shall be deposited, all costs deducted, in the king's treasury, to be delivered to the rightful party after the prize judgment, provided...
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The proceeds therefrom shall be deposited, all costs deducted, in the king's treasury, to be delivered to the rightful party after the prize judgment, provided the interested parties have fulfilled the formalities prescribed by law.

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36
Article 36 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
Restitution of fourfold the value and corporal punishment are imposed against those who open chests, bags, crates, wardrobes, etc. Against those who sell or conceal...
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Restitution of fourfold the value and corporal punishment are imposed against those who open chests, bags, crates, wardrobes, etc. Against those who sell or conceal merchandise from a prize before it has been judged good or ordered by the court.

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37
Article 37 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
It is forbidden for captains commanding state vessels and privateers to permit the pillaging of sailors' personal effects, even enemy sailors, under penalty of the...
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It is forbidden for captains commanding state vessels and privateers to permit the pillaging of sailors' personal effects, even enemy sailors, under penalty of the captor providing two complete changes of clothing to each sailor.

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38
Article 38 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
If the sale of a prize is made after it has been judged good, the proceeds shall be placed in the hands of the outfitter,...
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If the sale of a prize is made after it has been judged good, the proceeds shall be placed in the hands of the outfitter, to distribute according to the charter party between him and the crew. However, it may be ordered otherwise if his solvency is in doubt.

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39
Article 39 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
Whether the prize is judged good or bad, it is equally the duty of the admiralty officers to immediately execute the judgments rendered on prizes,...
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Whether the prize is judged good or bad, it is equally the duty of the admiralty officers to immediately execute the judgments rendered on prizes, and to promptly deliver the vessels and merchandise whose release is ordered, under penalty of suspension, a two thousand gourde fine, and all costs and damages.

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40
Article 40 Law on Prizes · Des Prises
Prize Law
But this may only take place when the judgment has not been appealed and has become final; for in provisional cases, the effects must be...
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But this may only take place when the judgment has not been appealed and has become final; for in provisional cases, the effects must be appraised and adequate security must be provided and accepted by the opposing party.