Toussaint Louverture - Early Life

Early Life

The earliest records of Toussaint Louverture's life come from a small number of his recorded remarks and the reminiscences of his son Isaac Louverture. Most histories identify Toussaint's father as Gaou Guinou, a younger son of the king of Arrada in modern-day Benin, who had been captured in war and sold into slavery. His mother Pauline, was Gaou Guinou's second wife. The couple had several children and Toussaint was the eldest son. Other historians believe that his father was Pierre Baptiste, who is usually considered to have been his godfather.

Toussaint is thought to have been born on the plantation of Bréda at Haut de Cap in Saint-Domingue, which was owned by the Comte de Noé and later managed by Bayon de Libertat. His date of birth is uncertain, but his name suggests he was born on All Saints Day and was probably about 50 at the start of the revolution in 1791. In childhood, he earned the nickname Fatras Baton, suggesting he was small and weak, though he was to become known for his stamina and riding prowess. An alternative explanation of Toussaint's origins is that he arrived at Bréda with Bayon de Libertat when the new overseer took up his duties in 1772.