Saint-Domingue

Quick Facts: Who was Saint-Domingue?

Subject:

Saint-Domingue

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French colony on Hispaniola, center of brutal sugar production and revolution.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Saint-Domingue (French: [sɛ̃ dɔmɛ̃ɡ] ) was a French colony in the western portion of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, in the area of modern-day Haiti, from 1659 to 1803. The name derives from the Spanish main city on the island, Santo Domingo, which came to refer specifically to the Spanish-held Captaincy General of Santo Domingo, now the Dominican Republic. The borders between the two were fluid and changed over time until they were finally solidified in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844. The French had established themselves on the western portion of the islands of Hispaniola and Tortuga thanks to the Devastations of Osorio. In the Treaty of Ryswick of 1697, Spain formally recognized French control of Tortuga Island and the western third of the island of Hispaniola.

Career & Major Achievements

In 1791, Africans, who had been forced into bondage, and some Creoles took part in a Vodou ceremony at Bois Caïman and planned the Haitian Revolution. The rebellion later allied with Republican French forces following the abolition of slavery in the colony in 1793, although this alienated the island's white population that benefited from free labor. France controlled the entirety of Hispaniola from 1795 to 1802, when a renewed rebellion began. The last French troops withdrew from the western portion of the island in late 1803, and the colony later declared its independence as Haiti, derived from the Taíno name for the island, the following year. Spain controlled the entire island of Hispaniola from the 1490s until the 17th century, when French pirates began establishing bases on the western side of the island.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The official name was La Española, meaning "The Spanish (Island)". It was also called Santo Domingo, after Saint Dominic. The western part of Hispaniola was neglected by the Spanish authorities, and French buccaneers began to settle first on the island of Tortuga, then on the northwest of Hispaniola. Spain later ceded the entire western coast of the island to France, retaining the rest of the island, including the Guava Valley, today known as the Central Plateau. The French called their portion of Hispaniola Saint-Domingue, the French equivalent of Santo Domingo.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1659: 1659 Milestone — Saint-Domingue (French: [sɛ̃ dɔmɛ̃ɡ] ) was a French colony in the western portion of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, in the area of modern-day Haiti, from 1659 to 1803.
2. 1697: 1697 Milestone — In the Treaty of Ryswick of 1697, Spain formally recognized French control of Tortuga Island and the western third of the island of Hispaniola.
3. 1791: 1791 Milestone — In 1791, Africans, who had been forced into bondage, and some Creoles took part in a Vodou ceremony at Bois Caïman and planned the Haitian Revolution.
4. 1793: 1793 Milestone — The rebellion later allied with Republican French forces following the abolition of slavery in the colony in 1793, although this alienated the island's white population that benefited from free labor.
5. 1795: 1795 Milestone — France controlled the entirety of Hispaniola from 1795 to 1802, when a renewed rebellion began.
6. 1803: 1803 Milestone — The last French troops withdrew from the western portion of the island in late 1803, and the colony later declared its independence as Haiti, derived from the Taíno name for the island, the following year.
7. 1844: 1844 Milestone — The borders between the two were fluid and changed over time until they were finally solidified in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Saint-Domingue

True or False: “The French established permanent control over the entire island of Hispaniola immediately after Christopher Columbus's initial landing in 1492.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Columbus initially named it Insula Hispana for Spain; French influence gradually grew through buccaneer settlements starting in the early 17th century.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Saint-Domingue