July 11, 1825 – July 11, 2025: Bicentennial of the 1825 Ransom

As the 'independence debt' imposed by France on Haiti in 1825 insistently returns to public debate, at a time when voices are multiplying to demand reparations, justice, and historical recognition, Professor Pierre Josué Agénor Cadet rigorously and clearly revisits a fundamental aspect of our collective memory. Through this in-depth analysis, he recontextualizes the bicentennial of the Haitian government's acceptance of Charles X's ordinance on July 11, 1825, denouncing historical inaccuracies and recalling the economic and symbolic violence of this 'ransom' for independence. July 11, 2025, marks the bicentennial of a historical act with profound consequences for Haiti: the acceptance by Jean-Pierre Boyer's government of the 1825 ordinance issued by Charles X, King of France and Navarre. This text conditioned the recognition of the independence of the government of the French part of Saint-Domingue (or Haiti's independence) on an exorbitant indemnity of 150 million gold francs, reduced in 1838 under the reign of Louis-Philippe I to 90 million, to be paid to former French colonists. Two centuries later, this date still symbolizes the political, economic, social, and diplomatic humiliation imposed on the first Black Republic of the New World. The Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) and the government led by Mr. Didier Fils-Aimé grandly commemorated on April 17, 2025, what they presented as the bicentennial of the 1825 ordinance, an act by which France recognized the independence of the colony of Saint-Domingue, which became Haiti, in exchange for an exorbitant indemnity. However, this official celebration is marred by a major historical confusion. As historian Professor Dr. Watson Denis rightly pointed out in an article published on Tuesday, July 8, in the prestigious daily Le Nouvelliste, titled: 'July 8, 1825 – July 8, 2025: Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the Acceptance of King Charles X's Ordinance by Jean-Pierre Boyer's Government,' Dr. Denis rightly admits that the April 17 date does not correspond to Haiti's formal acceptance of the ordinance, but rather to its promulgation in France. The historical reality is even more nuanced: the royal ordinance was signed in Paris on April 17, 1825, but it was only known, received, and, most importantly, accepted and officially put into effect on July 11, 1825. Thus, commemorating the bicentennial of the ordinance on April 17 or July 8 constitutes a historical error in perspective. This indicates either negligence or a lack of knowledge of the facts, and underscores the importance of scientific rigor when recalling foundational events. Historical truth tolerates no approximation: it is based on documents, archives, and the critical analysis of oral, written, audiovisual, and silent sources. This is why it is important to seek the truth to dispel this confusion and place the commemoration of the bicentennial of the ordinance in its true historical context. On July 3, 1825, a French war flotilla comprising seven corvettes and twelve ships, commanded by Baron de Mackau, anchored in the Bay of Port-au-Prince. It carried King Charles X's ordinance recognizing Haiti's independence (although the ordinance mentioned the independence of the government of the French part of Saint-Domingue) under the following conditions: Opening of all ports of Saint-Domingue to trade with all nations; Equal customs duties for all, with the exception of France, which would benefit from half the customs tariff; Payment of 150 million francs in compensation for dispossessed colonists, in five consecutive annual installments (the first due on December 31, 1825). President Boyer formed a commission composed of Secretary-General Joseph Balthazar Inginac, Senator Pierre-Prosper Rouanez, and Colonel Marie Elizabeth Eustache Frémont to discuss the ordinance with Baron de Mackau. This national commission, formed of representatives from the government, parliament, and army, rejected the ordinance for two main reasons: the amount of the indemnity, representing approximately ten times the national budget, exceeded the country's capacity; and the terms of the ordinance were deemed offensive to the national dignity of the young Republic. Baron de Mackau then requested a private audience with President Boyer. The latter committed to having the ordinance accepted by the Haitian people. By subscribing to this humiliation imposed by France, President Jean-Pierre Boyer not only revealed the powerlessness of Haitian diplomacy but also mortgaged the present and future of the Haitian Nation. After this meeting, Baron de Mackau was welcomed to the Senate on July 11, 1825, by its president, Senator Gayot, for the ratification session. On that day, Senator Rouanez read the ordinance, which was quickly voted on and unanimously adopted by the thirteen senators present. After this ratification, the procession headed towards the National Palace. Baron de Mackau was introduced into the Generals' Hall where President Boyer and members of his government were present. After receiving the royal ordinance from Senator Daumec, President Boyer delivered a speech marking the ordinance's entry into force, to which Baron de Mackau responded. While the flagship L'Eglau began a 21-gun salute in honor of the national flag, the other ships of the squadron, totaling 528 cannons, also fired. In turn, Fort Alexandre saluted the royal flag of France with a 21-gun salute, followed by all other forts in the capital and by the coast guards anchored in the harbor. After this first part of the official ceremony at the Palace, French and Haitian officers proceeded to the parish church where a Te Deum of thanksgiving was sung. A reception held in the evening, at the newly completed house of Secretary of State Imbert, located on Rue Républicaine (Grand'Rue), concluded the day's activities. The date of July 8, 1825, constitutes the de facto or protocol acceptance date of the ordinance. Indeed, it was on that day that the French frigate La Circé, commanded by Baron de Mackau, disembarked at the port of Port-au-Prince with the ordinance signed by Charles X, demanding that Haiti accept its conditions within five days. However, official acceptance, through the publication of a Haitian governmental act, only occurred on July 11, 1825. This divergence of dates is explained by the internal administrative process within Boyer's government, which, although subjected to an ultimatum, preferred to let a few days pass before formalizing its decision. July 8 is thus the date of the diplomatic shock; July 11 is that of the political act. The acceptance and application of this ordinance had heavy and serious consequences for Haiti. The ransom for independence constituted a veritable legal plunder of the Haitian state, orchestrated by a vengeful colonial power. The payment of the indemnity lasted more than seventy years, between 1825 and 1883, monopolizing up to 80% of state revenues at certain periods. The impact on the country's development was considerable: absence of public investments, disorganization of finances, economic stagnation, and institutional weakening. Efforts for restitution respond to a need for historical justice and social reparation. Since the beginning of the 21st century, several voices, both in Haiti and in the diaspora, have called for the restitution of this ransom. These efforts take various forms: historical research, claims, a demand for reparation and restitution formulated by President Aristide in an official speech on April 7, 2003, awareness campaigns by NGOs, artists, French political figures, members of the Haitian diaspora, intellectuals, and international activists campaigning worldwide to publicize and denounce this injustice. Until now, French authorities speak of a 'moral debt' but exclude any legal recognition of the wrongs inflicted on Haiti by imposing, under strong threats, a ransom for independence. However, international jurists and human rights defenders believe that the Haitian demand is legitimate under international law, particularly in the context of post-colonial reparations and coercive economic practices. This may be what led the French National Assembly to approve, on Thursday, June 12, 2025, a resolution proposal calling for the study of the restitution process for what it considers a 'double debt' imposed on Haiti. Two hundred years after the official acceptance and entry into force of the 1825 ordinance, Haiti still bears the scars of an extortion disguised as a diplomatic act. This commemoration should not be a mere evocation of the past, but a call for historical justice, active memory, and mobilization for a Haiti reconciled with its right to dignity and sovereignty. Professor Pierre Josué Agénor Cadet, Former Minister of National Education Bibliographical References: Cadet, Pierre Josué Agénor, Haiti/France: The Ransom for Independence, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Pro Éditions, August 2024. Cadet, Pierre Josué Agénor, History and Truth, Reflections on Some Chapters of Haiti's Past, C3 Éditions, Imprimerie Brutus, 2017. Cadet, Pierre Josué Agénor, Haiti, The Price of a Bicentennial, La Presse Évangélique, 2006. Castor, Suzy, The 1825 Indemnity: Political and Economic Consequences, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, CRESFED, 1995. Corvington, Georges, Port-au-Prince Through the Years, Volume II, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Éditions Henri Deschamps, 1975. Denis, Watson, 'July 8, 1825 – July 8, 2025: Commemoration of Charles X's Ordinance by Jean-Pierre Boyer's Government,' Le Nouvelliste, July 8, 2025. Madiou, Thomas, History of Haiti, Volume V, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Imprimerie Smith, 1848. Trouillot, Hénock, Reflections on Haitian Independence, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Éditions Henri Deschamps, 1974. National Archives of Haiti. Presidential Funds: Official Correspondence of Jean-Pierre Boyer, 1825. French Diplomatic Archives. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Americas series, Haiti file, 1825.