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Napoleon's Three Step Plan For Saint-Domingue
- Napoleon planned a three-step takeover to retake Saint-Domingue relying on deception and co-optation rather than prolonged combat.
- Steps: promise Tuson anything to seize ports, reassure black officers to isolate Tuson, then arrest and deport creole officers above captain rank.
Leclerc Married Into Napoleon's Circle
- Charles Victoire Emmanuel Leclerc, 29, married Pauline Bonaparte and was appointed commander of the expedition to retake Saint-Domingue.
- Bonaparte arranged the marriage and the command simultaneously to bind Leclerc into his inner circle.
Expedition Fueled By Prospect Of Colonial Spoils
- The expedition was massive: 50 ships (half the French heavy navy), 20,000 sailors and 20,000 veteran soldiers seeking riches and plantations.
- Many officers joined hoping to secure plantations and wealth, making colonial spoils a key motivator.