But insurgent leaders more commonly called on the authority of the king of France himself. This was the case of a remarkable free-colored man who took on the name Romaine la Rivière (also known as Romaine-laprophetesse), who emerged as a leader in the Southern Province of Saint- Domingue in late 1791. Having established himself in an abandoned church, he conducted mass before an upside-down cross and claimed to be “inspired by the Holy Spirit and in direct communication with the Virgin Mary, his godmother, who answered his solicitations in writing.” He repeatedly told slaves that the king had already freed them, but that their masters were refusing the decision, using this assertion to encourage them to join his armed band.

Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ …, loc. 156