Year XI of the République d'Haïti
HAITI, République d'Haïti (Western). Alexandre Pétion. President, 1806-1818. AR 12 Centimes (16mm, 0.91 g, 10h). Dated L’An 11 (AD 1814/5). Palm tree topped by liberty cap; behind, two flags and one cannon pointing to either side / REPUBLIQUE D HAYTI, ouroboros (serpent devouring its own tail) right around 12 * C; *AN XI * below. KM 11. EF, light golden toning with underlying luster.
When the bloody struggle for Haitian independence finally came to an end in 1804, General Jean-Jacques Dessalines proclaimed himself emperor. Yet the arrival of independence did not mean an end to conflict. Dessalines was assassinated on 17 October 1806, after only two years of rule. The country was then divided between Henri Christophe, ruler of L’Etat d’Haiti and Alexandre Pétion, president of La Republique d’Haiti. Christophe favored absolute, despotic rule, eventually being crowned king in 1811 over the territory he held in Northern Haiti. In contrast, Pétion initially struggled to introduce a democratic government over his western and southern portion of the island, and provided important support to Simón Bolivar and the struggle for independence in Gran Columbia. Despite these preferences, Pétion transformed his position into president for life in 1816, later suspending the legislature in 1818.
