Following the 1791 Saint Domingue uprising, Toussaint shows himself to be both a highly focussed military leader - who is not afraid either to discipline his troops or to take part in fierce battle - but also a man of great compassion in line with his Christian faith.

On 1 April 1796, the Republican French governor Étienne Laveaux organised a grand ceremony to mark Toussaint Louverture becoming his deputy. Toussaint was saluted as ‘the saviour of legitimate authority’, and for the first time publicly likened to Spartacus.

Author: Sudhir Hazareesingh
Abridger: Libby Spurrier
Reader: Adrian Lester
Producer: Celia de Wolff

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4 Show less