Leclerc's expedition lands in Saint-Domingue

Background. In 1801, Napoleon appointed Charles Leclerc to command an expedition to Saint-Domingue. The goal was to overthrow the regime of Toussaint Louverture and restore French metropolitan authority and, per one account, slavery in the colony. Louverture had established himself as Governor-General for Life under his own constitution, and Napoleon also gave Leclerc secret instructions to arrest him.

Expedition Departure. Leclerc left Brest, France, on 14 December 1801, leading a fleet transporting troops. Publicly, he repeated promises of freedom, but Napoleon secretly instructed him to arrest Louverture. The fleet included frigates and ships of the line, carrying thousands of soldiers to reassert French control over the colony.

Landing and Arrival. In late January 1802, Leclerc sought permission to land at Cap-Français while Christophe held him off. Diplomatic options were quashed when Rochambeau attacked Fort-Liberté, effectively ending the diplomatic route and forcing a military landing to enforce colonial rule.

Arrest and Imprisonment. Louverture was captured on 7 June 1802, despite the promises made in exchange for his surrender, along with a hundred members of his inner circle. He was deported to France and imprisoned at Fort-de-Joux on 25 August 1802. He died there on 7 April 1803.