fatvegan

In 1791 there was a successful slave rebellion in Haiti (then called St Domingue). Before the rebellion the colony had produced 30% of the world's sugar and was the most profitable of all European colonies.

Despite having just experienced its own revolution in the name of liberty, equality and fraternity, France sent an army to put down the revolt - one ship even prepared to sail under the banner 'live free or die' before it was realised that this might be seen as encouraging to the rebels.

New Internationalist (NI 398, which is actually quite good)

Happily the French soldiers got their arses whooped by mosquitoes and black fellas.