Saint-Michel (English: Saint Michael), also called Saint-Michel-du-Sud, is district and communal section in the Nippes deparment of Haiti. Originally known as Permerle, Saint-Michel is the fourth communal section of the City of Miragoâne. As of 2015, the population was 9,408.
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About[]
Saint-Michel was founded as an important military post in the Nippes Borough. Established as a district in 1912, it lies along the route connecting Aquin to Miragoâne, approximately 8 leagues from Aquin. The area features a rural school.
History[]
This hamlet is attractively positioned on elevated dry terrain, located over a quarter of a league away from the nearest spring or river. Travelers are unable to find fodder or water for their animals in this locality.
The Church, dedicated to Saint-Michael, lends its name to the area and was founded in 1732. The patronal feast is celebrated on September 29, and the population stood at 2,000 residents. Annually, there were approximately 120 births, 62 deaths, and 10 marriages recorded. Historically, the region was home to several sugar and indigo plantations. Currently, the primary products are coffee and foodstuffs. The Butel and Pemerle sugar plantations merged into one, while Laumont ceased operations. The Deronceray cotton mill was put up for sale under the law of March 10, 1814, aimed at promoting cultivation and increasing land ownership. Furthermore, there is a residence sharing the same name in the commune of Les Cayes, where General Moreau, who was captured in 1806 in Karatas during the uprising against Dessalines, was taken and executed on September 8. Madame Veuve Geffrard facilitated his burial.
The local inhabitants established scales for purchasing goods, with Miragoâne serving as the outlet. Saint-Michel is notable as the birthplace of Colombel, who served as private secretary to 1President Pétion.
Timeline[]
• In 1791, the freedmen of Saint-Michel wielded considerable power, to the extent that the whites who lived there never dared sending deputies to the colonial assembly at the Cape.
• On May 18, 1800, 1Dessalines, in pursuit of Rigaud towards Miragoâne, led his troops against Saint-Michel, capturing it only after a siege lasting fifteen days. The army of Toussaint Louverture, which initially comprised 30,000 soldiers, was reduced to 14,000 by the time it reached Saint-Michel.
• Monseigneur de Salomon Père held the title of Duke of Saint-Michel du Sud during the Empire in 1849.
• In September 1869, General Saint-Vil John, stationed in Saint-Michel and engaged in operations for 9President Salnave against the Cacos, entered into negotiations with the adversary in Miragoâne and subsequently deserted his position without opposition. He was tried, found guilty, and executed by firing squad in Port-au-Prince.
• In 1898, L. Gentil Tippenhauer released a study on the geological characteristics of Saint-Michel du Sud in Gotha.
Duparc[]
The Duparc locality, located 5 km (3 miles) from Miragoâne, boasts a beautiful river bearing the same name. Positioned on the route connecting Miragoâne and Aquin, Duparc served as the creative backdrop for the Haitian poet A.F. Dattier wrote his verse, Under the Bamboos. In the poet's own words, Duparc is a place where every element harmonizes to ignite the true poet's inspiration: a symphony of birds, the sweet scent of flowers, a cheerful breeze, the gentle flow of water, the crow of a rooster, and the distant sound of drummers.
Locations[]
| Bassin Bleu, Bouton, Cadiac, Chéresi, Dimisaine, Du Parc, La Source, Saint-Michel-du-Sud |
Morne Brice is located in this section. At 535 m (1,755 ft.), it is the tallest peak in the Nippes Department.
Route Nationale 2, vicinity of Chéresi
Sectional map of Saint-Michel-du-Sud, Haiti