Victoria Montou

Abdaraya Toya "Victoria Montou" (Circa 1739–1805) was a Dahomey warrior and freedom fighter in the army of Jean-Jacques Dessalines during the Haitian Revolution. Before the Revolution she and Dessalines had been enslaved on the same estate, and the two remained close throughout her life, with Dessalines calling her his aunt.

Early life Toya is believed to have been born in the Kingdom of Dahomey, in present-day Benin. Some sources indicate that she was a soldier there. It is unclear precisely when she was abducted and enslaved, or when she arrived in Haiti.

Before the revolution, Toya worked alongside Dessalines as a slave on the estate of Henry Duclos.

Toya introduced Jean-Jacques Dessalines to hand-to-hand combat and knife throwing. Plantation owner Duclos was wary of their closeness, and decided to transfer Victoria Montou to the Déluger dwelling, selling Jean-Jacques to a black freedman named Dessalines.

Toya was reportedly a skilled warrior, midwife and healer, who organised several rebellions before the momentous meeting at Bois Caiman in 1791.

At the head of about fifty slaves, there was Toya, with a scythe in her hand, a hoe on one shoulder and an indigo knife hanging from the belt of her jacket. Under Toya's command, one group was sent to deforestation, another to plowing, others to harvest grain and put it in large baskets. She had a strong voice, and she issued commands like a general.... A small number of rebels, under the command of Toya, was quickly surrounded and taken prisoner by the regiment. During the battle, Toya escaped, pursued by two soldiers. A struggle took place between them and Toya; she injured one of them seriously, but the other, helped by a few more soldiers who arrived in time, took Toya prisoner.

Post-Revolution In 1804 Dessalines became Emperor of Haiti, and he gave Toya the title of Duchess. She was given a state funeral with a procession of eight sergeants and Empress Marie-Claire Heureuse Felicite dressed in black between two non-commissioned officers led the convoy.