Nobility and heraldry thumb|right|Coat of Arms of the First Haitian Empire 1811-1820 thumb|In this portrait executed by Johann Gottfried Eiffe, a German artist in the Royal Court, Henry wears the grand cross of the Royal and Military Order of St. Henry (Ordre Royal et Militaire de Saint Henry) As king, Christophe created an elaborate Haitian peerage (nobility), originally consisting of four princes, eight dukes, 22 counts, 40 barons, and 14 knights ("chevaliers"). Christophe founded a College of Arms to provide armorial bearings for the newly ennobled. For his personal coat of arms, Christophe chose a crowned phoenix rising from flames, and the motto ‘Je renais de mes cendres’ (‘I rise from my ashes’), presumably referring to the rebirth of Cap Henry after he burned it in 1802 to repel the invading French army.
Nobility and heraldry thumb|right|Coat of Arms of the First Haitian Empire 1811-1820 thumb|In this portrait executed by Johann Gottfried Eiffe a German artist in the Royal Court Henry wears the grand cross of the Royal and Military Order of St Henry (Ordre Royal et Militaire de Saint Henry) As king Christophe created an elaborate Haitian peerage (nobility) originally consisting of four princes eight dukes 22 counts 40 barons and 14 knights ("chevaliers") Christophe founded a College of Arms to provide armorial bearings for the newly ennobled For his personal coat of arms Christophe chose a crowned phoenix rising from flames and the motto ‘Je renais de mes cendres’ (‘I rise from my ashes’) presumably referring to the rebirth of Cap Henry after he burned it in 1802 to repel the invading French army