Élisabeth Adélina Dérival Lévêque or Adélina Soulouque (née Elisabeth Anne Justine Lévêque; 26 July 1820 – 12 October 1878) was Empress of Haiti from 1849 until 1859, as wife of Emperor Faustin I of Haiti.
Life Adélina was the daughter of Pierre Michel Lévêque and Anne Augustin. She had a long-term relationship with Faustin Souloque for many years. On 31 December 1847Buyers, Haiti, Soulouque Genealogy. Adélina married her several years long-time companion, then-President Faustin Soulouque.
On 26 August 1849, when her husband proclaimed himself Emperor Faustin I, she was given the title Empress of Haiti with the style of Her Imperial Majesty. She was crowned with her husband at the capital Port-au-Prince on 18 April 1852: both emperor and empress were crowned in an immense and lavish ceremony that emulated the coronation of Napoleon. Her sister was styled Her Serene Highness Princess Célita.
As Empress, Adelina was given her own court, composed of a grand aumônier (grand almoner), two dames d'honneur (ladies of honor), two tirewomen, 56 dames du palais (ladies of the palace), 22 dames de la chapelle (ladies of the chapel), chamberlains and pages: all of them from the newly appointed nobility of Faustin and had the titles duchess, countess, baroness or marchioness.John Bigelow: Jamaica in 1850: or, The Effects of Sixteen Years of Freedom on a Slave Colony She performed representational duties, such as receiving in state, or giving audiences, every Tuesday.Harriet Gibbs Marshall: The Story of Haiti: From the Discovery of the Island by Christopher Columbus to the Present Day. Christopher Publishing House, 1930
In 1858 a revolution began, led by General Fabre Geffrard, Duc de Tabara. In December of that year, Geffrard defeated the Imperial Army and seized control of most of the country. As a result, the emperor abdicated his throne on 15 January 1859. Refused aid by the French Legation, Faustin was taken into exile aboard a British warship on 22 January 1859. Soon afterwards, the emperor and his family arrived in Kingston, Jamaica, where they remained for several years.
Allowed to return to Haïti, Faustin died at Petit-Goâve on 6 August 1867 and was buried at Fort Soulouque. Adélina herself was given the protection of the governments of Nissage Saget as well as Sylvain Salnave, and died in Port-au-Prince.
Issue Princess Geneviève Olive (known as "Madame Première") (29 November 1842 – 23 July 1883). Legitimated on the marriage of her parents, raised to the title of Princess and granted the style of Her Serene Highness in 1849. She married her cousin, Mainville-Joseph Soulouque. Princess Célestine Marie Françoise (1848 – aft. 27 January 1912), named Célita, raised to the title of Princess and granted the style of Her Serene Highness in 1849. She married Jean Philippe Lubin, Count of Pétion-Ville.Roman Catholic Church Kingston (Jamaica) Marriages 1839–1869: Act of marriage: Pierre Joseph Amitie Vil Lubin, native of Haiti, lawful son of His Lordship Earl Philippe Vil Lubin and by his wife, Elizabeth Ulcénie. Lord Amitie Vil Lubin, married on 12/26/1861 HSH Princess Genevieve Olive Soulouque, native of Haiti, lawful daughter of Emperor Faustin Elie Soulouque and Empress Adélina Lévêque. Witnesses: Alexandre Bravo, Charles Grant, widow Lubin, Amitie Lubin, widow of Louis Lubin, Elizabeth Grant, James Male, Jean Baptiste Vil Lubin, George Clermont, A.M. Lhoste, Felicite Faustin, Ameisima Amitie, Elina Mainvaille, L. Bedonet, Elizabeth Bourke, Caroline Crosswell.
See also Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité Marie Louise Christophe
Notes
References John Bigelow: Jamaica in 1850: or, The Effects of Sixteen Years of Freedom on a Slave Colony Harriet Gibbs Marshall: The Story of Haiti: From the Discovery of the Island by Christopher Columbus to the Present Day. Christopher Publishing House, 1930