August 2, 1646 - Jean du Casse
Du Casse occupied a rare intersection of imperial violence and state power, moving fluidly between slave trading, privateering, and colonial governance at a moment when France was consolidating its presence in the Caribbean. His tenure as the first governor of Saint-Domingue helped establish the administrative and economic foundations of what would become one of the most brutally exploitative plantation colonies in history. The honors he accumulated — including the Order of the Golden Fleece — reflect how thoroughly his career aligned with the ambitions of competing European crowns.
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