Vertières, November 18: The Battle That Ended French Rule in Haiti

November 18 is a public holiday in Haiti, marking the Battle of Vertières, fought on November 18, 1803. It is remembered as the last major battle of the Haitian Revolution.

What happened

The battle took place at Vertières, just south of Cap-Français, the city now called Cap-Haïtien, in the north of what was then the French colony of Saint-Domingue. Jean-Jacques Dessalines and François Capois were among the leaders of the Indigenous Army, which faced French forces commanded by General Donatien de Rochambeau.

The Haitian side won, and the result effectively ended French rule in the colony. Rochambeau withdrew during a storm and negotiated a surrender the next day. His forces were given ten days to leave the island.

What came next

Less than two months later, on January 1, 1804, Dessalines proclaimed the independent nation of Haiti, the first country founded by formerly enslaved people. Read more in our story of January 1, 1804.

How the day is remembered

In Haiti, November 18 is widely celebrated as a day of victory, with commemorations in Cap-Haïtien. Haitians in the diaspora also mark the date through community events and family conversations. To see where the day sits among other key dates, visit our culture section, and if you plan to travel north, read about the Citadelle, one of the best-known monuments of the early Haitian state.

Sources: Wikipedia, Battle of Vertières; OfficeHolidays, Battle of Vertières Day (2026 date and public-holiday status); Encyclopaedia Britannica, Haitian Revolution (general background). Casualty and troop figures vary between accounts and are intentionally left out.