affranchi

Haitian social class

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

The term affranchis refers to free people of color in Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti) during the French colonial period. This social group was comprised of individuals of mixed African and European descent, and some were even wealthier than white colonists.123

Despite their economic standing, the affranchis faced significant discrimination due to their race. Their frustrated aspirations, coupled with the brutality of slave owners and the influence of the French Revolution, were key factors that precipitated the Haitian Revolution. The affranchis were a significant element in the complex social structure of Saint-Domingue, which was deeply divided by skin color, class, and gender.1423

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Haiti
Plantations and enslaved people
…century—32,000 European colonists, and 24,000 affranchis (free mulattoes [people of mixed African and European descent] or Blacks). Haitian society was deeply fragmented by skin color, class, and gender. The “white” population comprised grands blancs (elite merchants and landowners, often of royal lineage), petits blancs (overseers, craftsmen, and the like), and…
Read More
…century—32,000 European colonists, and 24,000 affranchis (free mulattoes [people of mixed African and European descent] or Blacks). Haitian society was deeply fragmented by skin color, class, and gender. The “white” population comprised grands blancs (elite merchants and landowners, often of royal lineage), petits blancs (overseers, craftsmen, and the like), and…
Read More