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Hyacinthe Moïse
Hyacinthe Moïs (1769 – December 25, 1801) was born in Hericourt, Santo Domingo. He was a black slave and eventually became a Haitian soldier in the Hatian Revolution. Though he was the nephew of Toussaint L'Ouverture, he was among the first black slaves who rebelled in 1790.

Overview
Moïse joined a group of rebels that was led by, Lempereur and Jean Francois. They were committed to plundering many cities throughout the country. After some time spent plundering under the leadership of Lampereur and Francois he became very notorious himself. He gained much honor and soon had followers of his own to lead. On March 28, 1792, he attacked at La Croix du Bouquet and forced the whites under Breton de la Villaudrie to return to Port au Prince. This successful attack sparked an uprising across the country and gave motivation to others rebel groups. The army of Moïse began to grow every day. This growth was in preparation to march onto and to take Port au Prince. In response to this Governor Blanchelande resorted to diplomacy in order to dismiss the uprising. He prepared himself to the give privileges or rights to vote to all black rebels that held a certain position of command in these groups. This was only if they were prepared to disband their groups and turn their followers away. Many rebel leaders agreed to this and sent in their white flags. However, Moïse refused to follow these requests. He sought out and joined group of his previous leader, Jean Francois, who gave Moïse the command of the county of Du Dondon. Here the blacks had rebelled under the leadership of Father La Haye. Moïse had an active part in this rebellion for several years. However, he was viewed as more superior to other the other black commanders and chiefs of the rebellion.

In 1794 he left the rebellion that was led by Jean Francis, and joined his uncle Toussaint L'Ouverture. He began to fight for the French against the English. He helped drive them out from the western counties in Haiti. They defeated the English in the battle of Vallieres in 1796, and soon after caused them to leave the island in December, 1798. When Toussaint invaded the Spanish part of Santo Domingo, he appointed Moïse to the command of the right flank of his army. They defeated the Spanish troops posted on the riverbank and entered Santo Domingo on January 2, 1801. Toussaint later relieved Möise of his position in command and from the government of the city. He was then sent to be the general inspector of agriculture in northern Haiti.

The period that led to Moïse’s death was said to spur from the jealousy of Toussaint towards the popularity of Moïse amongst the soldiers. Toussaint aimed to dishonor his nephew in some way. Moïse followed his uncle’s orders at first, but later sided with Jean Francis against Toussaint. This sparked a new rebellion in December Toussaint accused his nephew of starting this rebellion and ordered his arrest. Moïse was condemned him to death without a trial as well as a number of his devoted followers.

Moïse's Role in the Haitian Revolution
Moïse began his role in the Haitian Revolution in 1790 under generals Lemperuer and Jean François. During the revolution, he won great support from black workers, and was viewed as an idol of the slave rebellion. When Governor Blanchelande of Port Au Prince offered to assimilate blacks into society in an attempt at diplomacy, Moïse refused to surrender his arms in an act of defiance and pride for the black workers in Haiti. Moïse drew a sizeable following and allied with Toussaint Louverture, his adopted uncle, against British troops in 1796 at the battle of Vallieres. On October 23, 1798, commissioner Thomas Hedouville ordered the arrest of Moïse after an armed conflict. Moïse managed to escape and rally black workers against Hedouville, with the aid of one of Toussaint Louverture’s generals, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and arrested Hedouville. In April of 1800, Moïse was instituted as the leader of the right-wing of Louverture’s army, and marched South on the Spanish at the river Nissa, where he emerged victorious and proceeded to enter Santo Domingo with Louverture on January 2, 1801. Here, fearful of the devout following Moïse had amassed, Louverture removed Moïse from his military position and placed him as the general inspector of agriculture in Northern Haiti. In October of 1801, an insurrection against Louverture’s rule spread through Haiti. Paranoid of his nephew’s open opposition to his plantation policies, Louverture suspected Moïse’s involvement. Louverture had Moïse arrested and sentenced him to death without trial. Some accounts suggest that Moïse was violently executed by being tied to a canon and blown apart.

General Moïse fought along side his uncle, Toussaint, for many years but did not share the same ideas about how to make change in Haiti. In fact, General Moïse had not been in agreeance with many of Toussaint's rules since he took control after the Haitian Rebellion. Furthermore, Moïse was not always obedient to his uncle's orders. One particular policy that General Moïse was opposed to was one that proposed a new relationship between white planters and former slaves. General Moïse wanted to divide the plantations and rid Saint Domingo of forced labor plantation work. In response, in September 1801, Moïse led a rebellion against Toussaint. There is speculation as to whether this was formally planned by General Moïse or if the former slaves were inspired by General Moïse's unacceptance of Toussaint's policy. Many of the former slave laborers viewed Moïse as a general for the people due to his position in contrast to Toussaint's governing. Orders were given by Toussaint to stop the rebellion where former slaves rebelled against white planters and those who supported what they viewed as a pro-white government. Despite General Moïse's opposition to Toussaint's rules and policies, Toussaint arranged for General Moïse to legally be his successor.