While a monarchy does not currently rule the country, it has had a few periods of royal rule. The Duvalier Dynasty, which ruled Haiti from 1957 to 1986, was not a period of the monarchy but of an authoritarian family dictatorship.
The Duvalier family was headed by Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier, president from 1957 to 1971, and his son Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, president from 1971 to 1986. During this period, the Duvaliers maintained a tight grip on power, and the country was largely isolated from the rest of the world.
Before the Duvalier Dynasty, Haiti was ruled by a monarchy from 1804 to 1849. This period began with the establishment of the Haitian Empire in 1804 when the country declared its independence from France. The first monarch of Haiti was Jacques I, crowned Emperor in 1804.
He was succeeded by his son, Henri I, who reigned from 1811 to 1820. Henri, I was followed by his brother, Jean-Pierre Boyer, who was president from 1820 to 1843. The last monarch of Haiti was Faustin I, crowned Emperor in 1849.
The Haitian monarchy was overthrown in 1849 by a group of revolutionaries led by General Faustin Soulouque. Soulouque declared himself Emperor of Haiti and established a new government, ending the monarchy. The country has been a republic ever since.
Today, Haiti is a democratic republic with no royal family. However, the country’s rich history of monarchy is still remembered and celebrated. The list of Haitian monarchs is still studied and discussed, and the memory of the Duvalier Dynasty is still controversial.
