Marie-Jeanne Lamartiniére
Marie-Jeanne Lamartiniére (fl. 1802), known in history only as Marie-Jeanne, was a Haitian soldier. She served in the Haitian army during the Haitian Revolution.
Haitian Revolution Service
Lamartiniére served at the Battle of Crête-à-Pierrot in 1802. She fought in male uniform and made a great impression with her fearlessness and courage. Lamartiniére is said to have boosted the morale of her colleagues with her bravery.
Later life
Her life after the independence is unknown. An old story says that she, for a time, was involved in a relationship with emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who admired her courage, and that she later married the officer Larose. This is unconfirmed but comes from a contemporary source, related by one of the other soldiers at Crête-à-Pierrot, and is considered trustworthy.
Similar Soldiers of Note
Most women participating as soldiers during the revolution remain anonymous, and only a few, of which Lamartiniere is one, have been known in history. Other contemporary examples of women in the Haitian army are Victoria Montou and Sanité Belair.
References
- Madison Smartt Bell: The stone that the builder refused (2004)
- http://www.haiticulture.ch/Marie-Jeanne.html