1802 (Christophe’s Rejection of Treason): In his response to General Hardy, Henry Christophe addressed the accusation of serving an “usurper” by stating that…

1802 (Christophe’s Rejection of Treason): In his response to General Hardy, Henry Christophe addressed the accusation of serving an “usurper” by stating that he recognized no such character in Governor Toussaint Louverture. He argued that the authority Louverture held was derived from the French government itself, making the charge of rebellion logically inconsistent. Christophe maintained that he could not be considered a rebel for obeying a leader whose powers had been formally sanctioned by the mother country. He asserted his determination to remain faithful to his duty and the established chain of command despite French pressure to defect. This refusal underscored the legalistic defense used by Haytian leaders to justify their continued resistance against the French expeditionary force.