In an age of revolutions, the revolutionaries face a revolution.

Ultimately unsuccessful, it paves the way for freedom for many, but not from a century of debt.

Story in the evening ...
François-Dominique Toussaint Bréda was born around 1743. His father or grandfather may have been Gaou Guinou, a Prince of the Kingdom of Ardra in the African continent. Gaou Guinou was captured, perhaps during a civil war, and sold as a slave in the Caribbean. 1/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toussaint_Louverture#/media/Fi
Toussaint grew up in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, which was on the western part of the island of Hispaniola. Earlier dominated by the Spanish, Hispaniola's western part had become dominated by the French in the 17th century, who formally acquired it in 1697. 2/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Domingue#/media/File:Saihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captaincy_General_of_Santo_Dom
Initially a slave on a plantation, Toussaint became a free man in 1776, after moving up the ranks quickly with his work in the plantation. He also received a decent education for his stature, with the help of Bayon de Libertad, who managed the plantation where he worked. 3/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_people_of_color#/media/Fi
Revolution in France in 1789 over liberté, égalité, fraternité had a cascading impact on Saint-Domingue. The slaves in the northern province rebelled for their freedom and quickly the rebellion spread across the colony. As a former slave, Toussaint was initially uncommitted. 4/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Revolution#/media/File
But after he secured his family's safety, Toussaint joined the rebels. He proved to be a skilled military leader as he opened the way for the rebels. The French struggled to put on a strong show. Eventually, French Commissioner Sonthonax proclaimed emancipation of slaves. 5/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9ger-F%C3%A9licit%C3%A9_
In 1793, Toussaint added Louverture to his name. He allied with the Spanish, who controlled the remaining part of Hispaniola and was able to gain considerable ground in Saint-Domingue. But in 1794 when France officially freed slaves, Toussaint sided the French. 6/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toussaint_Louverture#/media/Fi
Soon, Toussaint became the Lieutenant Governor of the French colony. France had been at war with Spain and the British. Toussaint expelled the Spanish from Saint-Domingue, and kept the British in check at Saint-Marc. With peace returning, Toussaint focussed on the economy. 7/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toussaint_Louverture#/media/Fi
Toussaint faced opposition from André Rigaud, who held a strong position in the south. But by 1800, Rigaud was also defeated. The next year, he invaded his Spanish neighbours. Before long, he was in control of the entire island of Hispaniola. 8/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Knives#/media/File:Andr
Toussaint also prepared a Constitution for his province, as a colony of the French Empire. But the French Emperor had other ideas. The French Emperor send his brother-in-law, General Leclerc, to rein in his Governor General. 9/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toussaint_Louverture#/media/Fi
Leclerc induced Toussaint's supporters to switch sides, and captured him through deceit and exiled him to France. But Toussaint's supporters again switched sides, eventually gaining independence in 1804; recognized by France only in 1825 for 150 million francs paid by 1947. 10/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Dessalines#/media

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More from @Arby_K

24 Dec
A nation in turmoil loses an importance province.

A Queen seeking to reclaim her nation's authority.

A Governor looking to reverse the course and regain his nation's past glory.

Story in the evening ...
Salvador Correia de Sá e Benevides was born in 1594 to Martim de Sá and Marie de Mendoza Benevides. His maternal family were prominent nobles of Cadiz in Spain, while his paternal ancestors played a significant role in Portuguese Brazil. 1/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_de_S%C3%A1#/media/Fil
In 1565, Estácio de Sá had founded Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Both Salvador's father and grandfather, Salvador de Sá, had been Governors of Rio de Janeiro on different occasions and the younger Salvador followed them becoming Governor of the southern captaincies of Brazil. 2/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Est%C3%A1cio_de_S%C3%A1#/media
Read 11 tweets
21 Dec
From a city below the sea level to building a city that is now sinking.

Story in the evening ...
Jan Pieterszoon Coen was born in the city of Hoorn, Holland in 1587. Raised as a Calvinist, he grew up in a time when the Dutch were fighting for their independence from the Spanish King, who was also the Count of Holland and ruled over most parts of the Low Countries. 1/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Pieterszoon_Coen#/media/Fi
The Spanish King ruled over a vast realm across continents and had a strong say in global trade. In 1602, the Dutch started Vereenigde Oost Indische Compagnie (Dutch East India Company) partly to counter the Spanish might. 2/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_Union#/media/File:Phil
Read 11 tweets
17 Dec
It is kinda odd to listen to the @TheRestHistory presenter (Not sure if it was Holland or Sandbrook) talk of reading about the Burgundians when they were 17 or Bart van Loo talk of not studying about them in school earlier.

Since I had read about them when I was 12. 1/5
Of course, it was only a couple of pages and I didn't even even know they were related to the French Kings at the time. 2/5

And this deep dive / pet project cleared up many of the nuances of European history for me.

The obvious question then is why is someone who has never travelled outside Asia tweeting on European history (and not on Indian history).



3/5
Read 5 tweets
17 Dec
In Asimov's Foundation trilogy, there is an Empire in its last days, and as it crumbled many succeeded it, forging their own path.

One state gained by adopting the legacy of a crumbling Empire, though it took a thousand years for the gain to materialize.

Story in the evening ..
Recaredo was born around 560 to Leovigildo. They lived in the Visigothic Kingdom in the Iberian peninsula. The Visigoths held rule over a large part of the peninsula after the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West in 476. 1/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reccared_I#/media/File:Recared
The 550s saw the Visigoths in a state of civil war, with the King Agila struggling against Atanagildo. With help from Constantinople, Atanagildo deposed Agila and became King. But this also led to Constantinople acquiring area in the peninsula. 2/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visigothic_Kingdom#/media/File
Read 11 tweets
14 Dec
There was once a great Kingdom stretching across continents.

But at its peak, it got relegated into being just one Kingdom for a King with many crowns.

Until it rose up and got back its bragging rights, though as a spent force, like its former masters.

Story in the evening ...
João de Bragança was born to Teodosio de Bragança, Duke of Bragança and Ana de Velasco y Girón in 1604. The Duchy of Bragança was created in 1442 for Afonso, Count of Barcelos and an illegitimate son of Portuguese King João, by his nephew, Afonso, the then King of Portugal. 1/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_IV_of_Portugal#/media/Fil
The House of Bragança retained their influence in Portugal, even after the Portuguese Royal family died out. João's grandmother, Catarina, was among the contenders, but was overtaken by the Spanish King, Felipe, who also defeated his illegitimate cousin, António, in battle. 2/10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_succession_crisis_ohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Portuguese_Successi
Read 11 tweets
13 Dec
.@bartvanloo talks of the Burgundians who almost carved out a nation in between France and Germany.

(The first of those nations came a century after they were gone)

It is interesting to note that the history of the Burgundians are not commonly taught in the Low Countries. 1/5
The Burgundy "project" as it ended up took a century in making when four successive Dukes of Burgundy acquired a large part of what we call the Low Countries. 2/5

Burgundy, like Lorraine, and to an extent, Switzerland, were the successors of a failed partition of the Carolingian Empire - Middle Francia. While France and Germany fought over it, it got divided into many parts which showed independent character. 3/5

Read 5 tweets

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