in an effort to regain control of the colony and re-establish slavery. Jean-Jacques Dessalines led the fight to defeat the French forces. The French withdrew their 7,000 surviving troops in late 1803. As leader, Dessalines declared the independence of Saint-Domingue with its new name of Haïti in 1804.

Christophe was in charge of the northern section of the country, where he notably supervised the first steps of the construction of Citadelle Laferrière.