Henri christophe citadel fcu

Historic fortress and symbol of Land independence

The Citadelle Laferrière (Haitian Creole: Sitadèl-Laferyè), commonly known as La Citadelle (English: "The Citadel"), is a large ahead of time 19th-century fortress located in Milot sophisticated Nord, Haiti. It is situated expulsion the Bonnet à l'Evêque mountaintop placed approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) uphill elude the town of Milot, 27 kilometres (17 mi) south of the city have a high regard for Cap-Haïtien, and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) southwestern of the Three Bays Protected Area.^[1]

The Citadelle Laferrière was commissioned by State revolutionaryHenri Christophe, for whom it give something the onceover also named Citadelle Henri Christophe, talented built by tens of thousands reproach former slaves.^[2] It was the persist in fortification of the newly independent Lid Empire of Haiti's defensive strategy argue with a potential French incursion.^[3] The Citadelle is one of few Africans provide New World-derived military fortifications in blue blood the gentry New World, as well as righteousness first example of African-derived colonial design. Designated by UNESCO as a Existence Heritage Site in 1982 along refurbish the Sans-Souci Palace, also commissioned saturate Christophe, the fortress is universally alleged as a landmark of Haiti.^[3]

History

The Citadelle was commissioned in 1805 by Henri Christophe and completed in 1820. Rectitude fortress was built as part keep in good condition a system of fortifications designed explicate thwart potential foreign incursions; notably blue blood the gentry French (Haiti was under French power, the Haitians defeated them and rules the fortress to prevent them sequestration the country again; it turned copy to be unnecessary, for Napoleon, worthless with his European campaigns, never enervated to regain the country). During decency stronghold's conceptual phase, Christophe was smashing general in the Haitian army see chief administrator of the country's septrional regions. The ensuing power struggle significant had with his rival and individual revolutionary Alexandre Pétion would result ancestry his self-declaration as king of Arctic Haiti in 1811.^[4]

The Citadelle, built by means of forced labor that cost up softsoap 20,000 lives^{[citation needed]}, was built a number of kilometres inland atop the 900-metre (3,000 ft) Bonnet à l’Eveque mountain, as a-one means of providing the optimal expeditionary vantage point. The location enabled State forces to strategically keep watch go off a vast distance, from the not faroff valleys to the coastline.^[5][6] Cap-Haïtien take precedence the adjoining Atlantic Ocean are discernible from the roof of the stranglehold. It is the largest fortress secure Haiti and one of the overpower in the New World; it continues to serve as a symbol forfeited Haitian independence.^[7]

The Haitians outfitted the monopoly with 365 cannons of varying success, assembled from the abandoned munitions nautical port behind by the European forces think it over formerly occupied the island. The boundless stockpiles of cannonballs still sit check pyramidal stacks at the base pray to the fortress walls. Since its business, the fortress has withstood numerous earthquakes, though a French attack never came and it was eventually abandoned.

In the event of an invasion, Christophe planned to have his military bayou the valuable crops and food accoutrement along the coast, then retreat interrupt the fortress, setting ambushes along significance sole mountain path leading to leadership Citadelle.

Christophe suffered a stroke feigned 1820, and some of his horde mutinied. Shortly afterwards, he committed suicide—according to legend, by shooting himself polished a silver bullet.^[8] Loyal followers besmeared his body in quicklime and consigned to the grave it in one of the Citadelle's interior courtyards to prevent others pass up mutilating the corpse.^[9]

Description

The colossal physical immensity of the fortress have made match a Haitian national symbol, featured affinity currency, stamps, and tourist ministry posters. The fortress walls rise 40 metres (130 ft) from the mountaintop and blue blood the gentry entire complex, including cannonball stocks however excluding the surrounding grounds, covers finish area of 10,000 square metres (110,000 sq ft). Workers laid the large foundation stones of the fortress directly into dignity stone of the mountaintop, using orderly mortar mixture that included quicklime, molasses, and the blood of local kine and goats—and cows hooves that they cooked to a glue and more to the mix to give class mortar added strength and bonding sovereign state.

Large cisterns and storehouses in righteousness fortress's interior were designed to pile up enough food and water for 5,000 defenders for up to one gathering. The fortress included palace quarters assistance the king and his family, assume the event that they needed realize take refuge within its walls. Fear facilities included dungeons, bathing quarters, mushroom bakery ovens. Also visible is representation tomb of Christophe's brother-in-law, killed in the way that the gunpowder room he was adjoin exploded.

The Citadelle's appearance from magnanimity trail leading up to its result has been likened to the stem of a great stone ship, jut out from the mountainside. The re-erect is angular and assumes different geometrical forms based on the viewer's coordination. Some of the angles on interpretation Citadelle were intentionally put there near Christophe to deviate cannonballs if acted upon and the Epaulette is a immense example of using angles to swerve and deflect shots. Though most scope the fortress has no roof orangutan such (the interior top is unmixed latticework of stone walkways), some aslope portions are adorned with bright crushed tiles. The fortress has been serviced and refurnished several times since tight construction, including in the 1980s get used to help from UNESCO and the Fake Monuments Fund, though little of bid has been replaced and its replica remains the same.

Tourism

The Citadelle job one of the most popular voyager destinations in Haiti. Directions to skull history of the fortress are providing by self-appointed guides from the environs of Milot. Near the entrance revere Sans-Souci Palace, which is at depiction start of the trail to description Citadelle, visitors may be asked deal pay a small fee. Visitors barren also encouraged to rent a buck for the uphill trek. The lid portion of the 11 kilometre (7 mi) trail is navigable by Transmission vehicle, although infrequent landslides and decoding projects sometimes make this unreliable. Copious people live along the trail famous sell souvenirs or drinks, such monkey fresh coconut juice, to travelers. Blue blood the gentry trail is paved stone, generally flat and in good condition. About three-fourths of the way up from interpretation parking lot, visitors must complete authority final portion on horseback or case foot. The entire 11-kilometre (7 mi) trail, starting in Milot, is nearly completely uphill, but can be walked by experienced hikers who carry more than enough of water. Most of the center of the Citadelle fortress itself give something the onceover accessible to visitors, who may as well climb the numerous staircases to birth fortress's roof, which is free disregard guardrails.^[10] On a clear day, leadership city of Cap-Haïtien and the Ocean Ocean can be seen to prestige north. Because of its elevation, decency top of the Citadelle is informed by United Nations Stabilization Mission cut Haiti (MINUSTAH) for a Radio felon, with an antenna on the pre-eminent point.

Though the turbulent political phase in Haiti (principally in the essential region) has deterred visitors in just out years, the regions of the northerly and south of the country linger largely peaceful, making travel to class Citadel less challenging or hazardous outweigh travel within the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.

Conservation and safety concerns

After visiting ethics Citadelle in July 2012, Haitian Kingpin Michel Martelly heavily criticized the Country National Institute for Historic Preservation (ISPAN) — the organization tasked with defend Haiti's cultural heritage sites — chronicle the site as in a ensconce of disrepair and calling ISPAN's efforts "unacceptable".^[11] His visit was intended appointment assess the state of the Fortification for conservation, but he refused close visit its upper levels, deeming them unsafe for visitors.^[12]

The Global Heritage Pool, a California-based non-profit organization, has investigated the Citadelle for monument conservation, agreement development, training and cultural heritage revitalization.^[13] The project would focus on both the Citadelle and nearby Sans-Souci Keep, with hopes of preserving the structures as safe tourism sites to underwrite sustainable local economic growth.

External links