Marie Sainte Dédée Bazile (fl. 1806), known as Défilée and Défilée-La-Folle, is a figure of the Haitian Revolution. She is remembered for retrieving and burying the mutilated body of Emperor Dessalines after his assassination at Pont Larnage.[1]
Dédée Bazile was born near Cap-Français to enslaved parents and made a living serving as a sutler to the army of Dessalines.[1] There are varying accounts of her madness but according to legend, Dédée Bazile either developed mental illness after she was raped by her master at age 18, or after some of her family members were killed in the defeat of Dessalines's army by General Donatien Rochambeau.[1]
Assassination of Dessalines
On October 17, 1806, Emperor Dessalines was ambushed by his former comrades Alexandre Pétion, Jean-Pierre Boyer, André Rigaud, and Bruno Blanchet. He was fatally shot north of Port-au-Prince.[2] His body was then brought into the city where it was stoned and mutilated by the crowds.
"Pendant que de nombreux enfants, au milieu de grands cris de joie, criblaient de coups de pierre les restes infortunés de Dessalines, sur la place du Gouvernement, une vieille femme folle nommée Défilée vint à passer. Elle s'approcha de l'attroupement que formaient les enfants...On lui dit que c'était Dessalines. Ses yeux égarés devinrent calmes tout à coup; une lueur de raison brilla sur ses traits. Elle alla à la course chercher un sac, revint sur la place, y mit ses restes ensanglantés et les transporta au cimetière intérieur de la ville. [Port-au-Prince] Le général Pétion y envoya quelques militaires qui, pour une modique somme, les enterrèrent."[3]
In English, this translates as:
"While numerous children, in the midst of great cries of joy, covered the unfortunate remains of Dessalines with stone-impacts on the Government Place, an old, crazy woman named Défilée came by. She approached the mob formed by the children... She was told that it was Dessalines. Her wild eyes suddenly became calm; a glimmer of reason shone across her features. She went and fetched a sack, came back to the Place, put his bloodied remains therein, and took them to the interior cemetery the town [of Port-au-Prince]. General Pétion sent along some soldiers who, for a modest sum, buried them."[4]
Bazile, an admirer of Dessalines, gathered his remains in a sack and transported them to the Cimetière Intérieur to bury them.
Legacy
Bazile died around 1816 and was buried in Port-au-Prince, but her grave has been lost.[1] She was survived by her several children including her son Colonel Condol Bazile, officer of the constabulary under the Haitian president Faustin Soulouque.[3]
^ abcdBraziel, Jana Evans (2005-10-05). "Re-membering Défilée: Dédée Bazile as Revolutionary Lieu de Mémoire". Small Axe. 9 (2): 57–85. doi:10.1353/smx.2005.0014. ISSN 1534-6714. S2CID 144652298.
^Webmaster. . www.haiticulture.ch. Archived from the original on 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
^ ab"Mémoire de femmes". www.jasminenarcisse.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
Re-membering Défilée: Dédée Bazile as Revolutionary Lieu de Mémoire
Mémoire de femmes
February 13, 2023
dédée, bazile, marie, sainte, 1806, known, défilée, défilée, folle, figure, haitian, revolution, remembered, retrieving, burying, mutilated, body, emperor, dessalines, after, assassination, pont, larnage, contents, life, assassination, dessalines, legacy, refe. Marie Sainte Dedee Bazile fl 1806 known as Defilee and Defilee La Folle is a figure of the Haitian Revolution She is remembered for retrieving and burying the mutilated body of Emperor Dessalines after his assassination at Pont Larnage 1 Contents 1 Life 2 Assassination of Dessalines 3 Legacy 4 References 5 External linksLife EditDedee Bazile was born near Cap Francais to enslaved parents and made a living serving as a sutler to the army of Dessalines 1 There are varying accounts of her madness but according to legend Dedee Bazile either developed mental illness after she was raped by her master at age 18 or after some of her family members were killed in the defeat of Dessalines s army by General Donatien Rochambeau 1 Assassination of Dessalines EditOn October 17 1806 Emperor Dessalines was ambushed by his former comrades Alexandre Petion Jean Pierre Boyer Andre Rigaud and Bruno Blanchet He was fatally shot north of Port au Prince 2 His body was then brought into the city where it was stoned and mutilated by the crowds Pendant que de nombreux enfants au milieu de grands cris de joie criblaient de coups de pierre les restes infortunes de Dessalines sur la place du Gouvernement une vieille femme folle nommee Defilee vint a passer Elle s approcha de l attroupement que formaient les enfants On lui dit que c etait Dessalines Ses yeux egares devinrent calmes tout a coup une lueur de raison brilla sur ses traits Elle alla a la course chercher un sac revint sur la place y mit ses restes ensanglantes et les transporta au cimetiere interieur de la ville Port au Prince Le general Petion y envoya quelques militaires qui pour une modique somme les enterrerent 3 In English this translates as While numerous children in the midst of great cries of joy covered the unfortunate remains of Dessalines with stone impacts on the Government Place an old crazy woman named Defilee came by She approached the mob formed by the children She was told that it was Dessalines Her wild eyes suddenly became calm a glimmer of reason shone across her features She went and fetched a sack came back to the Place put his bloodied remains therein and took them to the interior cemetery the town of Port au Prince General Petion sent along some soldiers who for a modest sum buried them 4 Bazile an admirer of Dessalines gathered his remains in a sack and transported them to the Cimetiere Interieur to bury them Legacy EditBazile died around 1816 and was buried in Port au Prince but her grave has been lost 1 She was survived by her several children including her son Colonel Condol Bazile officer of the constabulary under the Haitian president Faustin Soulouque 3 She is considered one of the four symbolic heroines of the independence of Haiti alongside Sanite Belair Catherine Flon and Cecile Fatiman References Edit a b c d Braziel Jana Evans 2005 10 05 Re membering Defilee Dedee Bazile as Revolutionary Lieu de Memoire Small Axe 9 2 57 85 doi 10 1353 smx 2005 0014 ISSN 1534 6714 S2CID 144652298 Webmaster Femmes d Haiti Defilee Dedee Bazile www haiticulture ch Archived from the original on 2016 05 31 Retrieved 2016 11 21 a b Memoire de femmes www jasminenarcisse com Retrieved 2016 11 21 Translated by a random readerExternal links EditFemmes d Haiti Defilee Dedee Bazile Re membering Defilee Dedee Bazile as Revolutionary Lieu de Memoire Memoire de femmes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dedee Bazile amp oldid 1107196494, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
