Cap-Haïtien is a commune located on the north coast of Haiti and serves as the capital of the Nord department. The city has a population of approximately 300,000 people. Historically known by the names Cap-Français and Cap-Henri during the rule of Henri I, it was once referred to as the "Paris of the Antilles" due to its sophisticated artistic life and wealth reflected in its architecture.
The city held significant political importance during the colonial period, serving as the capital of the French Colony of Saint-Domingue from its formal foundation in 1711 until 1770, when the capital was relocated to Port-au-Prince. Following the Haitian Revolution, Cap-Haïtien served as the capital of the Kingdom of Haiti under King Henri I until 1820.