Jacmel

Jacmel is a commune in southern Haiti and the capital of the department of Sud-Est. Located 24 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince across the Tiburon Peninsula, the town spans coordinates 18.23569 latitude and -72.53686 longitude.

Historical Turning Points in the Arts

Cast-iron balconies. The corvette Leander.

• Founded originally by the Spanish in 1504 and later repopulated by the French in 1698, the commune evolved from Taíno territory into a bustling coffee trading center adorned with preserved early 19th-century Gingerbread houses.
• A profound maritime milestone occurred on March 12, 1806, when Francisco de Miranda raised the first flag of Gran Colombia aboard the corvette Leander while anchored in the Bay of Jacmel.
• The visual culture of the settlement expanded outward, influencing architecture in New Orleans through imported French ironwork while fostering a vibrant local community of papier-mâché artisans and housing the nation's leading film school, the Ciné Institute.

For further historical documentation regarding this Sud-Est commune, consult the Jacmel record or verify geographical data via the GeoNames record for Jacmel.

Jacmel is a commune in southern Haiti serving as the capital of the department of Sud-Est. Located 24 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince across the Tiburon Peninsula, the municipality operates within the America/Port-au-Prince timezone and utilizes the HTG currency.

Foundations and Indigenous Origins

Originally derived from the indigenous Taíno name Yaquimel, the territory belonged to the Xaragua chiefdom ruled by cacique Bohechio before the Spanish founded a settlement there in 1504. Following the Devastations of Osorio and the relocation of the Dominicans to the eastern side of the island, the area was repopulated by the French in 1698. The Compagnie de Saint-Domingue established the town as the capital of the southeastern part of the French colony Saint-Domingue to boost sugar production and trade.

A Historical Turning Point: The War of the South

During the Haitian Revolution, Romaine-la-Prophétesse led thirteen thousand rebels in 1791 and 1792 to besiege, occupy, and burn Jacmel while freeing slaves and seizing weapons from surrounding plantations. Later, the strategic southern port became the focal point of the War of the South, fought between Toussaint Louverture and André Rigaud, who wished to maintain authority over the city. Commanded by Alexandre Pétion, the defence held until February 1800, when the port fell to Toussaint's troops and forced Pétion into exile in France.

Maritime Legacy and Global Symbols

Anchored in the Bay of Jacmel on March 12, 1806, Venezuelan leader Francisco de Miranda raised the first flag of Gran Colombia on the corvette Leander. This design, celebrated as Venezuelan Flag Day, inspired the current national flags of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

Evolution into the City of Light

After a major fire in 1896 destroyed most buildings, the coffee trading centre was rebuilt using prefabricated cast-iron pillars and balconies shipped from France. In 1925, Jacmel became the first place in the Caribbean to have electricity, earning the moniker City of Light. Today, the settlement features early 19th-century Gingerbread houses, serves as home to the Ciné Institute, and holds tentative acceptance as a World Heritage Site despite sustaining damage in the 2010 Haiti earthquake.