Dessalines

Dessalines (Haitian Creole: Desalin) or sometimes Marchand-Dessalines (Haitian Creole: Machan Desalin), is a commune in the Artibonite department of Haiti. It is named after Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first ruler of independent Haiti. It is known as the First Black Capital of the New World.

Originally called Marchand, in 1804 the town was made capital of the newly independent state of Haiti. It was shortly renamed after Jean-Jacques Dessalines in honor of the first Haitian head of state. The imperial constitution of 20 May 1805 was proclaimed from the town Dessalines. After the emperor's assassination in October 1806 Port-au-Prince was declared the new capital of Haiti.