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1816, January 1 (The Monarch as the Source of Light): The nobility described King Henry Christophe as the primary source of the “knowledge and arts” that wer…

HT-HAPA-1816-000207

1816, January 1 (The Monarch as the Source of Light): The nobility described King Henry Christophe as the primary source of the “knowledge and arts” that were beginning to illuminate the kingdom. Baron Dessalines remarked that the King’s “noble idea” of raising the character of the nation was being realized through the establishment of schools and the promotion of the sciences. The Baron asserted that the Haytian people now looked to the throne not only for protection but for the “intellectual nourishment” required for a civilized life. This portrayal of the King as a “philosopher-sovereign” was intended to counter European stereotypes of Black leadership. It underscored the government’s commitment to a long-term project of national enlightenment and moral regeneration.

Source  ·  HT-HAPA-1816-000207  ·  p. 186 Sanders, Haytian Papers, 186 / Bates: HT-HAPA-1816-000207