Parallel with the government of Christophe in the north, Alexandre Pétion, a free person of color, ruled over the south of the country as President of the Republic of Haiti until his death in 1818.

After the failure of the French expedition of 1803, General Jean-Jacques Dessalines proclaimed Haiti's independence.

After that, his generals marched on the capital, abolished the Empire and drove out the imperial family, which had to go into exile.

In conflict with the southern republic of Pétion, he managed, after several battles, to secure the borders of his new state.

During this period, the French who remained in the eastern part of the island were defeated by the Hispanic-Creole inhabitants, under the command of Juan Sánchez Ramírez, at the battle of Palo Hincado on 7 November 1808.