Adélina, Empress of Haiti
| Adélina | |
|---|---|
| Empress consort of Haiti | |
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| Reign | 1849-1859 |
| Born | 26 July 1820 Manegue, Arcahaie |
| Died | 12 October 1878 (aged 68) Port-au-Prince |
| Spouse | Faustin I of Haiti |
| Issue |
Olive Soulouque Célita Soulouque |
Adélina Soulouque (26 July 1820 – 12 October 1878), née Elisabeth Anne Justine Lévêque, was Empress Consort of Haiti from 1849 until 1859, as wife of Faustin I of Haiti.
Adélina was the daughter of Marie Michel Lévêque, a Haitian of mixed-race heritage. She had a long-term relationship with Faustin Souloque for many years. It was only on 31 December 1847 that Adélina married her long-time companion Emperor Faustin. On 26 August 1849 she was given the title Empress of Haiti with the style of Her Imperial Majesty, and crowned with her husband at the capital Port-au-Prince on 18 April 1852: both emperor and empress were crowned in an immense and lavish ceremony that emulated the coronation of the French Napoleon I of France. Her sister was styled Her Serene Highness Princess Clélia.
They had two daughters:
As Empress, Adelina was given her own court, composed of a grand almoner, two ladies of honor, two tire women, 56 ladies of the palace, 22 ladies of the chapel, chamberlains and pages: all he female courtiers came from the newly appointed nobility of Faustin and had the titles duchess, countess, baroness or marchioness. She performed representational duties, such as receiving in state, or giving audiences, every Tuesday.
In 1858 a revolution began, led by General Fabre Geffrard, Duc de Tabara. In December of that year, Geffrard defeated the Imperial Army and seized control of most of the country. As a result, the emperor abdicated his throne on 15 January 1859. Refused aid by the French Legation, Faustin was taken into exile aboard a British warship on 22 January 1859. Soon afterwards, the emperor and his family arrived in Kingston, Jamaica, where they remained for several years. Allowed to return to Haïti, Faustin died at Petit-Goâve on 6 August 1867 and was buried at Fort Soulouque.
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