France’s formal abolition of slavery, not Spanish defeat, triggered Louverture’s defection

Evidence

News of the National Convention’s February abolition of slavery had been sweeping into the Caribbean along unofficial channels, and it had probably reached Louverture, triggering his defection. In ratifying the emancipation proclaimed by Sonthonax and Polverel, the French government had won his loyalty. Louverture was nevertheless cautious during the following weeks. He kept in contact with the Spanish, and although he defended his positions he did not attack his former allies. In fact, soon after they gained the territory he brought to them, the French lost Port-au-Prince to the British, who had just received long-awaited reinforcements. — Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ The Story of…, 618

Categorization

• XREF: Important nuance for the narrative arc: the swing toward France was driven by an ideological commitment (emancipation) rather than pure military calculus — an interesting counterpoint to Louverture’s own cautious style.