For Haitians, this world heritage site is the first monuments of their modern independent identity; but their ancient identity is seen through the name ‘taïno’ of the island before the arrival of the Europeans in 1492. It was given to the country whose inhabitants were anciently belonged to the ‘Haiti’ or the ‘Wu-tu’ or the ‘Ita’ or the ‘Ota’ geographical region whose history is reflected through Wu-Tunya-Sullu(y)a Inscriptions. Both Wutu and Tanya identify them as a royal group of the ancient world. Taino is as same as Tanais of the Bible and Tyna of Alexander’s historians. It was royal seat of administration of Ramses II or the Kings of ancient Egypt known by the generic name of ‘Rama’. Souci is Sucottha or Socotra of other ancient texts which stands for Panchana or Pan-chaia. Names Saus and Saur are also identified with this Socotra. This was a place on the Dan settlement and on the bank of the Dan River as same as the Dondon Valley which marks the ancient Troy along with it.
Unesco’s scholarship reads, ‘Unique testimonies directly connected to the independence of Haiti, resulting from a general uprising of slaves deported from Africa, are united here. The French Revolution of 1789 led to serious social upheavals in the Lesser Antilles, as in Santo Domingo. The most important was the slave revolt that resulted in 1793 with the abolition of slavery, decision endorsed and generalized throughout the French colonies by the National Convention six months later (First abolition of slavery, (le 16 pluviôse an II), [4 February, 1794]). At the end of a violent war, the Declaration of Independence of the country was proclaimed on 1 January 1804’.
The site is situated at the foot of the access road to the Citadelle near to the village of Milot: and the latter pinpoints the ancient Miletus neighbourly to Tanais and Sideon. The Dondon Valley and the surrounding region harmonise the different environments of their inhabitants and constitutes a historical coherent human system that is reflected through the term ‘quartier’ which means Carthage; Ancient Tanais or Tyna was a part of the geography of Carthage. When Colonel Jean-Baptist Sans Souci identified himself with ‘quartier’ he spoke of his ancient royal identity:
Jean—Jinn or Zion
Baptist—Bubastis refers to ancient Babylon
Sans—Sana or Sanak near it was the Catherine Monastery
Souci—Socotra or Saus of Egypt.
The ephemeral republic of Jean-Jacques Dessalines similarly bears a universal historical significance: it should not be seen as ‘the first state founded in the contemporary epoch by black slaves who had won their liberty’;
Jean—Zion
Jacques—Jericho/one of the six Seats of King Cush’s kingdom
Dessalines—Dasak/Dasa/Dasa of Alans
This African historical heritage site constructed was captured by the comment of his advisor Pompee Valentine Vastey who is also called Baron Valentin Vastey who said that the palace and its nearby church, “erected by descendants of Africans, show that we have not lost the architectural taste and genius of our ancestors who covered Ethiopia, Egypt, Carthage, and old Spain with their superb monuments’. His name also reflects that he belonged to royal dynasty of the Vastyas of ancient history.
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