Christophe, (Henri,) a negro king of Hayti, born in 1767.  In the insurrection which began about 1790 he fought against the French, and by his courage and talents attracted the notice of Toussaint L'Ouverture, who made him a general of brigade.  After Toussaint had be transported to France, Christophe fought under Dessalines, who assumed the title of emperor in 1804.  When, in October, 1806, Dessalines was assassinated, Christophe became ruler of the northern part of the island.  A rivalry between him and Péthion, who favoured a representative system, led to civil war.  After several indecisive battles, Péthion retained the southwest part of the island, and Christophe in 1811 was crowned King of Hayti, as Henri I.  He established the Catholic religion, and, in mimicry of European courts, created a nobility, with such titles as Duke of Marmalade and Count of Lemonade, these names having formerly been those of different plantations.  In 1814, Louis XVIII. of France sent emissaries to Hayti with a design to recover that island, but without success.  His cruelties having rendered him unpopular, Christophe was unable to suppress a revolt, and shot himself in October, 1820.  Boyer then became President of Hayti. (Universal Pronouncing Dictionary of Biography and Mythology, Thomas, v.1, 1870)