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Why did Toussaint Louverture first ally with Spain in 1793?

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Toussaint Louverture stands in a military uniform with a feathered hat, holding a document and sword, with soldiers and a landscape in the background. — Toussaint Louverture A formerly enslaved person who became the leading figure of the Haitian Revolution, Toussaint Louverture helped lay the foundation for Haiti's independence.

In 1793, Toussaint Louverture aligned with Spanish forces in Santo Domingo primarily due to the outbreak of war between France and Spain. This decision reflected the fragmented political landscape of the island and Louverture’s strategic use of imperial rivalries to advance his military and political objectives.1

By joining the Spanish, Louverture—who had already begun training his followers in guerrilla warfare—was recognized as a general and gained a platform to challenge French authority in Saint-Domingue. However, this alliance was temporary. In May 1794, Louverture shifted his allegiance back to France after the French National Convention abolished slavery throughout its empire. This move aligned with his commitment to the principles of liberty and legal equality, as Spain and Britain continued to uphold slave systems in their territories.1