Episode 151: Henri Christophe: First and Last King of Haiti

Between 1807 and 1820, Haiti was led by it’s first and last king, Henri Christophe. A contemporary of Robespierre and Napoleon, Washington and Hamilton, his life was as colorful, controversial and as tragic as any from his age. He presided over a Haitian state that was opulent and cultured on one hand, brutal and repressive on the other. Today I’m joined by Yale professor Marlene Daut, whose new book, "The First and Last King of Haiti", charts the rise and fall of this revolutionary, enigmatic and largely forgotten figure who despite all his flaws pioneered a vision of black sovereignty amidst almost impossible circumstances.