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Historical Dictionary

A glossary of historical terms

Dessalines, Jean-Jacques

(c1758-1806) African-born emperor of Haiti. Bought as a slave, he adopted his master's name. He succeeded Toussaint l'Ouverture, who had led the 1791 slave rebellion. After exterminating most of his opponents, he proclaimed himself Jacques I, emperor of Haiti, in 1804. He was assassinated in 1806.

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