The Haitian Revolution is often remembered through the names of its founding fathers—Toussaint Louverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and Henri Christophe. Yet, standing alongside them was a woman whose ferocity and military prowess earned her the nickname "The Tigress." Sanité Bélair was not just a supporter of the revolution; she was a soldier, a strategist, and a martyr who chose a soldier’s death over the submission expected of her gender.
Biography: From Freedom to the Frontlines
Born Suzanne Bélair around 1781 in Verrettes, Haiti, Sanité was an affranchi (a free person of color). Despite her relatively privileged status compared to the enslaved population, she recognized that true liberty was impossible under French colonial rule.
1796: At just 15 years old, she married Charles Bélair, a nephew of Toussaint Louverture and a rising commander in the revolutionary army.
Military Rise: Sanité did not stay in the shadows of her husband's career. She joined the ranks of Louverture’s army, rising quickly from Sergeant to Lieutenant.
The Struggle: She was instrumental in the 1802 uprising in the Artibonite region, where she and Charles led a massive revolt against French General Leclerc's attempt to reinstate slavery.
Accomplishments and Heroism
Sanité Bélair’s legacy is defined by her refusal to accept the "traditional" role of a woman during wartime.
Commanded Troops: She was a legitimate military officer who participated in direct combat and organized troop movements.
The Resistance of 1802: When the French sent the Saint-Domingue expedition to crush the revolution, Sanité and Charles were among the last holdouts in the mountains, waging guerrilla warfare that terrified the Napoleonic forces.
A Soldier's Defiance: In October 1802, the couple was captured. While Charles was sentenced to death by firing squad (a soldier's execution), Sanité was sentenced to beheading because she was a woman. She famously refused to be executed like a common criminal, successfully demanding the right to face the firing squad alongside her husband.
"Viv libète! A ba esclavaj!" (Long live freedom! Down with slavery!)
— Sanité Bélair’s final words before the firing squad.
Legacy: The Face of Haitian Freedom
Sanité’s bravery served as a catalyst for the final push toward Haitian independence in 1804. She proved that the fight for liberty belonged to every Haitian, regardless of gender.
National Currency: In 2004, to celebrate the Bicentennial of Haiti, the government featured her portrait on the 10-gourde banknote, making her only the second woman to ever appear on Haitian currency.
National Heroine: She is officially recognized as a National Heroine of Haiti, a symbol of "Armed Resistance."
Cultural Icon: Her story continues to inspire Haitian literature and art, most recently featured in the Panthéon in Paris as part of an exhibition on heroes of the abolition.
Sources and Further Reading
This video provides a concise overview of her military rank, her marriage to Charles Bélair, and her defiant final moments.
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Sanité Bélair (1781–1802) was a Haitian revolutionary and lieutenant in Toussaint Louverture’s army. Rising from sergeant, she helped lead uprisings of enslaved people in the fight for Haiti’s freedom and independence.
— AFRICAN & BLACK HISTORY (@AfricanArchives) February 24, 2026
Born Suzanne Bélair in the late 1700s in Saint-Domingue… pic.twitter.com/vUtfQvl1hH
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