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This 4th of July, just learned about Romaine La Prophetesse, a gender non conforming general of the Haitian Revolution who led nearly 15K troops, liberated the city of Jacmel, and dressed in women's clothing and claimed the Virgin Mary as Godmother
Romaine La Prophetesse owned slaves himself (historians use Him/he pronouns since Romaine's own preference is unknown) but Romaine also had three children with an enslaved woman, eventually marrying her to free her and his children, and appears to have had alliances w free blacks
"Shortly after the insurgency began, Romaine professed to be a godchild of the Virgin Mary, and produced written messages supposedly from her calling for the overthrow of slavery.[..Romaine preached that God was black, and said Mass with a saber in hand"
Romaine "transgressed conventional gender norms", being visibly feminine in demeanor and appearance, wearing ribbons and rosaries and dressing like a woman. "
Side note: the bickering on the wikipedia page about whether Romaine La Prophetesse practiced "authentic" Vodoun is..fascinating? and beside the point? I only have a preliminary knowledge of Vodoun but it seems pretty obvious the traditions he worked within....
No one knows exactly how Romaine La Prophtetesse died. Reports at the time have him vanishing into thin air after French troops retook the city of Legone, which he had earlier conquered.
