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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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37
Article 37 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes contre la sûreté et la tranquillité intérieure du Royaume
Criminal Law
If the public official, in the case of the preceding article, was struck, the convicted party shall be condemned to ten years of galley service;...
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If the public official, in the case of the preceding article, was struck, the convicted party shall be condemned to ten years of galley service; a penalty that may also be increased as mentioned in the preceding article. If subordinates outraged or struck their superiors, they shall be punished according to the Military Penal Code.

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38
Article 38 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes contre la sûreté et la tranquillité intérieure du Royaume
Criminal Law
The custodians of public force who, after being required in accordance with the King's Edicts, refuse to deploy said public force, shall be condemned to...
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The custodians of public force who, after being required in accordance with the King's Edicts, refuse to deploy said public force, shall be condemned to three years at the barrière neuve.

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39
Article 39 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes contre la sûreté et la tranquillité intérieure du Royaume
Criminal Law
Any public official convicted of the crime of forgery in the exercise of his functions shall be punished with ten years in irons.
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Any public official convicted of the crime of forgery in the exercise of his functions shall be punished with ten years in irons.

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40
Article 40 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes contre la sûreté et la tranquillité intérieure du Royaume
Criminal Law
Whoever is convicted of having counterfeited currency in commercial circulation, or of having contributed to its circulation in the kingdom, shall be punished by death;...
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Whoever is convicted of having counterfeited currency in commercial circulation, or of having contributed to its circulation in the kingdom, shall be punished by death; and whoever altered said currency, as well as whoever knowingly and maliciously circulates them, shall be punished with fifteen years of galley service.

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41
Article 41 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes contre la sûreté et la tranquillité intérieure du Royaume
Criminal Law
Whoever, other than a public official, is convicted of having stolen state funds or goods, shall be punished with four years at the barrière neuve,...
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Whoever, other than a public official, is convicted of having stolen state funds or goods, shall be punished with four years at the barrière neuve, without prejudice to more severe penalties according to the circumstances of the theft.

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42
Article 42 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes contre la sûreté et la tranquillité intérieure du Royaume
Criminal Law
Whoever is convicted of the crime of forgery, in civil matters and private writing, shall be condemned to two years of galley service; and if...
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Whoever is convicted of the crime of forgery, in civil matters and private writing, shall be condemned to two years of galley service; and if in authentic writing, to four years; but in criminal matters the penalties are doubled, and even the death penalty shall apply if the forgery caused the death of the accused.

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43
Article 43 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
Involuntary homicide cannot be deemed a crime when it is proven that it resulted from no sort of negligence or imprudence.
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Involuntary homicide cannot be deemed a crime when it is proven that it resulted from no sort of negligence or imprudence.

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44
Article 44 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
But if it is proven that it resulted from negligence or imprudence, although the accused cannot be considered a murderer, he shall be punished with...
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But if it is proven that it resulted from negligence or imprudence, although the accused cannot be considered a murderer, he shall be punished with a correctional penalty, according to the gravity of the case and the circumstances.

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45
Article 45 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
There is no crime if the homicide is committed by necessity of self-defense or defense of others.
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There is no crime if the homicide is committed by necessity of self-defense or defense of others.

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46
Article 46 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
Except in the cases provided above, any voluntary homicide committed, whether with weapons or with poison, against any person whatsoever, shall entail the death penalty.
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Except in the cases provided above, any voluntary homicide committed, whether with weapons or with poison, against any person whatsoever, shall entail the death penalty.

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47
Article 47 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
Murder committed without premeditation, as a result of provocation bearing evidence of violence, shall be punished with three years at the barrière neuve.
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Murder committed without premeditation, as a result of provocation bearing evidence of violence, shall be punished with three years at the barrière neuve.

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48
Article 48 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
Provocation by verbal insults shall not be received as an excuse; and the murder resulting therefrom shall be punished with six years at the barrière...
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Provocation by verbal insults shall not be received as an excuse; and the murder resulting therefrom shall be punished with six years at the barrière neuve.

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49
Article 49 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
The exceptions provided in the preceding articles do not apply in the case where the murder was committed against the person of a legitimate or...
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The exceptions provided in the preceding articles do not apply in the case where the murder was committed against the person of a legitimate or natural father or mother, or against an ascendant relative; the guilty party shall be punished by death.

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50
Article 50 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
Assassination as well as poisoning, even if not completed, shall be punished by death, if the design and intention are proven.
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Assassination as well as poisoning, even if not completed, shall be punished by death, if the design and intention are proven.

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51
Article 51 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
Whoever is convicted of having forced the miscarriage of a pregnant woman, whether by violence or other means, shall be punished with fifteen years at...
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Whoever is convicted of having forced the miscarriage of a pregnant woman, whether by violence or other means, shall be punished with fifteen years at the barrière neuve.

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52
Article 52 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
Minor wounds not resulting in maiming shall be punished with the penalty provided in Article 12, and according to aggravating circumstances.
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Minor wounds not resulting in maiming shall be punished with the penalty provided in Article 12, and according to aggravating circumstances.

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53
Article 53 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
If the wounds require treatment of thirty days, proven by the king's doctor or surgeon, or by other recognized practitioners, and during this time the...
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If the wounds require treatment of thirty days, proven by the king's doctor or surgeon, or by other recognized practitioners, and during this time the wounded person could not attend to his affairs, the guilty party shall be punished with two years' detention at the royal prison, as a correctional measure.

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54
Article 54 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
If said wounds cause the loss of use of an arm, a leg, or a thigh, the penalty shall be four years at the barrière...
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If said wounds cause the loss of use of an arm, a leg, or a thigh, the penalty shall be four years at the barrière neuve.

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55
Article 55 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
If the wounded person is rendered, by the effect of the wound, incapable of earning his living, the penalty shall be death.
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If the wounded person is rendered, by the effect of the wound, incapable of earning his living, the penalty shall be death.

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56
Article 56 Criminal, Correctional and Police Law · Des crimes et attentats contre les personnes
Criminal Law
The violence specified above, committed against natural or legitimate fathers and mothers, or against ascendant relatives, shall be punished by death.
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The violence specified above, committed against natural or legitimate fathers and mothers, or against ascendant relatives, shall be punished by death.