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Why did the 1801 constitution keep a nominal allegiance to France?

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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.

Toussaint Louverture’s 1801 constitution maintained a nominal allegiance to France primarily as a strategic effort to preserve the political order and the abolition of slavery he had established in Saint-Domingue.1

By professing loyalty to France, Louverture sought to reassure Napoleon Bonaparte of his intentions while simultaneously consolidating his own authority as governor-general for life. This approach allowed him to function as a largely autonomous leader, as the constitution contained no provisions for direct French control over the colony's administration, military, or economic policy.1

Ultimately, this relationship was defined by deep tension and ambiguity; while Louverture attempted to maintain this facade of allegiance to prevent conflict, he also actively strengthened the colony's defenses and disciplined his army in anticipation of potential French intervention. His efforts to balance independence with nominal loyalty were part of a broader attempt to protect the gains of the Haitian Revolution against the threat of restored European colonial rule.12