Sanité Bélair

Who was Sanité Bélair?

Suzanne Bélair, called Sanité Belair, was a Haitian Freedom fighter and revolutionary, sergeant in the army of Toussaint Louverture.

Born an affranchi, she married Brigade commander and later General Charles Bélair in 1796. When she was taken captive by general Charles Leclerc, her husband turned himself over as well to avoid being separated from her. Both sentenced to death, her spouse was to be executed by fire squad and she by decapitation because of her sex. She watched Bélair's execution, where he calmly asked her to die bravely, and went to her own execution as calm as he, refusing to wear a blindfold.

Sanite Bélair is considered as one of the heroes of the Haitian revolution.