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Arms of the Presidents of Haiti

Posted: 06 Sep 2013, 14:52
by Jonathan Webster
A surprisingly large number of the Presidents of Haiti have been armigerous.

Henry Christophe (President 1807-1811 and later King of Haiti) bore as President: Argent, the letters HC conjoined Sable, the shield surrounded by wreaths of laurel and in place of a crest a laurel wreath above the shield. His motto was 'Libertas Religio Mores'.

Philippe Guerrier (President 1844-1845) was created Comte de Mirebalais and Duc de l'Avance by Christophe, and was granted the Arms: Purpure, a Porcupine passant Argent. Supporters: two Lynxes guardant proper. His motto was 'Qui s 'y frotte s 'y pique' and above the shield is a barred silver helm placed affronty with mantling Sable, Purpure and Argent. No crest.

Jean-Louis Pierrot (President 1845-1846) was likewise ennobled by Christophe as Count and Baron de Vallieres and was granted the Arms: Purpure, a Serpent Argent, crowned Or. Supporters: two Beavers Vair. His motto was 'En tout temps en tout lieux' and above the shield is silver barred helm, facing to the dexter, with mantling Purpure, Azure, Or and Argent. Again no crest.

Fabre Geffrard (President of Haiti 1858-1867) was ennobled by Emperor Faustin Soulouque of Haiti (as Duc de Tabara et de la Table), and as such would have been granted Arms, but I have not been able to find what his arms were.

Likewise for Lysius Salomon (President 1879-1888 and created Duc de Saint-Louis du Sud by Soulouque), and also Tiresias Sam (President 1896-1902 and created Duc de l'Acul du Nord by Soulouque).

If anyone has any information as to what the Arms of these last three Presidents were, or the arms of any other Presidents of Haiti, I would be very grateful. :)

Re: Arms of the Presidents of Haiti

Posted: 06 Sep 2013, 14:55
by Chris Green
Henri Christophe founded a whole heraldic genre. There is a book about it by the current Richmond Herald:

C. E. A. Cheesman (ed.), The Armorial of Haiti. Symbols of nobility in the reign of Henry Christophe. With a historical introduction by Marie-Lucie Vendryes. London: The College of Arms, 2007.

Re: Arms of the Presidents of Haiti

Posted: 06 Sep 2013, 14:56
by Jonathan Webster
Proud owner of that splendid work and that is the source for the Arms of Guerrier and Pierrot.

The Arms granted by Christophe were largely surprisingly good, particularly when you bear in mind everyone else at this time was still bogged down with landscape heraldry.