Born in Petit Goave Haiti, on August 15, 1782, Faustin Elie Soulouque was a Haitian president who later became emperor. Emperor Soulouque was born a slave and was one of the two sons of Marie Catherine Soulouque.

He became president on March 1, 1847. Two years later, on August 25, 1849, he proclaimed himself emperor of Haiti.

Emperor Faustin 1 married Adelina, his long time companion. History reported that the emperor and his wife were crowned on April 18, 1852 in a lavish ceremony in the Haitian capital.

It has been reported that the government of Soulouque was very repressive. He was able to maintain his power, thanks to his paramilitary group called "Zinglins" who were oppressing the Haitian population. He also established fear among his military officers, and many of them were executed for not following his rules.

Do you think current Haitian politicians are behaving better than Faustin?

Haitian history reported that Haitian emperor Soulouque himself was involved in cannibalism of his opponents and drinking of their bloods.

Is this something cultural?

It was also reported that the government of Faustin Elie Soulouque was corrupted. He established a system of monopoly to control all the major agricultural products in Haiti. Products such as coffee and cotton were highly taxed, with the revenue benefiting directly his friends and family.

Has anything changed from 1847 to the present. It is said by Frank Herbert that: " Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible."

It is reported that because of the high level of corruption and waist by Soulouque and friends, his administration was unable to meet its obligation, one of which was the debt of independence owed to France. In an attempt to pressure the Soulouque government to pay the debt, France sent several military fleets to the Bay of Port-au-Prince. Confrontation was avoided at the end.

Do you think the government of Soulouque should have confronted France head on?

Could this have been our second revolution?

Do you think a second victory over the French military was possible?

During his reign as emperor of Haiti, it is reported that Faustin I drained Haiti public treasure. Anything new?

In an attempt to increase power behind the Haitian border, Soulouque made several attempts to occupy the Dominican Republic. He unsuccessfully conducted military campaigns against them in 1849, 1850, 1855 and 1856.

Do you think the plan to invade The Dominican Republic was good strategy on the part of Faustin I?

The emperor was forced out of office in January 1859. General Farbre Geffrard lead an insurrection and seized the control of most of Haiti. Faustin and his family went into exile in Jamaica on January 22, 1859. He was allowed to return to his birth place and died on August 6, 1867.