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1811-03-26

Christophe is proclaimed king at Fort-Liberté.

Haitian

On 26 March he had accepted a *barbaco* (1) at Fort-Liberté. Arrangements had been made so that the beans of the Kings’ Cake should fall to his portion and to that of his wife (2). The king of the bean takes his glass. While he drinks, the cry goes up, as is the custom: “The king drinks.” At once his flatterers and his courtiers cry out: “Long live the king!” The cry is repeated with enthusiasm. Juste Chanlatte and Vastey propose to the company that they make this title a serious one. No one dares to oppose it (3). Couriers are sent to the Cap to carry the good news and to announce that the king is to arrive that same evening. The city is illuminated by order. The royal procession makes its entrance there by the light of the lamps and amid the repeated cries of “long live the king! long live the queen! long live the royal family!”

Source  ·  p. 276 Joseph Saint-Rémy (des Cayes), Pétion et Haïti: étude monographique et historique, tome 5 (Paris: Auguste Durand, 1857), p. 276; English translation, Rasanblaj.