Marie-Louise Coidavid facts for kids

Marie Louise Coidavid was the Queen of Haiti from 1811 to 1820. She was married to Henri Christophe, who became King Henri I of Haiti. Marie Louise was an important figure in the early history of Haiti as a free and independent nation.

Early Life and Family

Marie Louise Coidavid was born in 1778. Her family was free and of African descent. Her father owned a hotel in Cap-Haïtien, a city in Haiti.

Henri Christophe, who would later become her husband, was once enslaved. He was bought by Marie Louise's father. Henri worked at the hotel and earned enough money from tips to buy his freedom. This happened before the Haitian Revolution began.

Marie Louise and Henri Christophe got married in 1793 in Cap-Haïtien. They had already been together for a year before their marriage. They had four children:

• François Ferdinand (1794–1805)
• Françoise-Améthyste (died 1831)
• Athénaïre (died 1839)
• Jacques-Victor Henry (1804–1820)

In 1798, Henri Christophe got a new important job. Marie Louise and her children moved to the Sans-Souci Palace. During the French invasion of Haiti, they had to hide underground until 1803 to stay safe.

Becoming Queen

Marie Louise's children, Jacques-Victor Henry, Françoise-Améthyste, and Anne Athénaïre, around 1811.

In 1811, Haiti became a kingdom. Henri Christophe was made King Henri I. Marie Louise was then given the title of Queen. This new role came with many responsibilities.

As Queen, she had special duties. She had ladies-in-waiting, a secretary, and her own royal court. She took her position very seriously. Marie Louise believed that being Queen meant she had important duties to perform for the nation.

She was the hostess for all the royal events at the Sans-Souci Palace. However, she did not get involved in government decisions. She was also named as a possible Regent. This meant she would rule Haiti if her son became king while still a child. But her son grew up before his father died, so she never had to be Regent.

Life After the King

In 1820, King Henri I passed away. Marie Louise stayed at the palace with her daughters, Améthyste and Athénaïre. Soon after, the King's followers escorted them out of the palace with his body. After they left, the palace was attacked and robbed.

Marie Louise and her daughters were given a property outside Cap-Haïtien. The president of Haiti, Jean Pierre Boyer, visited her. He offered her his protection. Marie Louise tried to give him some valuable gold spurs, but he refused them. He said he was the leader of poor people.

They were later allowed to live in Port-au-Prince. People described Marie Louise as calm and accepting of her situation. However, her daughters, especially Athénaïre, were said to be more angry about what happened.

Life in Exile

Marie Louise lived in exile for 30 years. In August 1821, she and her daughters left Haiti. They traveled to London, England, with the help of a British admiral, Sir Home Popham.

There were rumors that she was looking for money her husband had saved in Europe. Whatever the reason, she lived comfortably for the rest of her life.

Living in England

A Blue Plaque honoring Queen Marie Louise at 5 Exmouth Place in Hastings, England.

In England, they first lived in Blackheath, London. They were welcomed by people who were against slavery. Later, they moved to Weymouth Street in London, where they lived from 1821 to 1824.

In October 1822, they moved to Hastings, a town by the sea. They lived at what is now 5 Exmouth Place. Many wealthy people from London moved to Hastings to escape the city's pollution and busy life. In 2022, special blue plaques were put up to remember the Queen's time in England.

However, the English weather and the pollution from the Industrial Revolution were not good for Améthyste's health. So, they decided to leave England.

Moving to Italy

A historical marker in Pisa, Italy, commemorating Queen Marie Louise.

In 1824, Marie Louise and her daughters moved to Pisa, in what was then the Grand Duchy of Tuscany (now Italy). They lived there for the rest of their lives. Améthyste died soon after they arrived, and Athénaïre passed away in 1839.

They lived a quiet life. Sometimes, people who wanted their money or claimed to be heirs to the throne would bother them. Shortly before she died, Marie Louise wrote to Haiti asking for permission to return. However, she passed away in Italy before she could go back. She is buried in the church of San Donnino. A historical marker was placed in front of the church on April 23, 2023, to honor the Queen, her daughters, and her sister.

See also

• Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité
• Adélina Lévêque