Toussaint L'Ouverture led the Haitian Revolution against French colonial rule, which began in 1791 and resulted in Haiti becoming the first independent black republic and the first post-colonial state in the world. L’Ouverture, a former enslaved person, became a brilliant military leader and strategic thinker, leading the fight for freedom. He initially fought against the French, but after the abolition of slavery in 1794, he allied with them against external forces. His leadership was instrumental in establishing the revolutionary government, although he was later captured by the French and died in captivity.