Battles & Campaigns · 1844
Battle of Santiago
Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
What happened
Dominican forces under General José María Imbert fought Haitian troops under General Jean-Louis Pierrot. In the Dominican War of Independence against Haiti, a Haitian army marched on the city of Santiago in two columns. Dominican defenders, with cannons on strong points, drove back two Haitian attacks, and the Haitian army withdrew.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It saved Santiago, the country's second city. If it had fallen, the young republic might have collapsed.
What came next
The Dominican War of Independence continued with other battles, including Azua and Las Carreras.
Did you know?
Santiago, founded in 1495, has a 67-metre marble monument on a hill honouring the heroes of a later war of independence in 1863-1865.
Timeline
- 1495Santiago de los Caballeros is founded.
- 30 March 1844The Dominicans win at Santiago.
- 1863-1865The Dominican Restoration War.