Siege of Santo Domingo (1805)

The Siege of Santo Domingo, which took place from March 2 to March 28, 1805, was a major event in the Haitian Revolution. Following the Haitian victory at the Battle of Vertières in 1803, which secured Haiti's independence, Haitian forces under the command of General Jean-Jacques Dessalines marched on the city of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo (present-day Dominican Republic). Dessalines aimed to conquer the entire island of Hispaniola and unite it under Haitian rule.

The city of Santo Domingo was defended by a French garrison under the command of General Jean-Louis Ferrand. Despite being outnumbered, the French defenders possessed fortified positions and access to naval support.

The Haitian siege proved unsuccessful. Lacking sufficient artillery and facing fierce resistance from the French, as well as encountering challenges related to logistics and disease within their own ranks, Dessalines was unable to breach the city's defenses. Furthermore, the arrival of a French naval squadron forced Dessalines to lift the siege and retreat back to Haiti.

The failure to capture Santo Domingo marked a turning point in Dessalines' campaign. While Haiti had achieved independence, its ambitions to control the entire island were thwarted. The eastern part of Hispaniola remained under French control, later reverting to Spanish rule. The siege also contributed to escalating tensions between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, setting the stage for future conflicts. After the siege, Dessalines enacted harsh policies against the remaining French population in Haiti, further solidifying his image as a ruthless leader. The Siege of Santo Domingo is remembered for its brutality and the lasting impact it had on the relationship between Haiti and the future Dominican Republic.