As Emperor Faustin I had no male issue, he proclaimed his nephew Prince Mainville-Joseph Soulouque (the eldest son of his brother Jean-Joseph) as Crown Prince of Haiti. Prince Mainville-Joseph (1830-1875) married his cousin the Princess Imperial Geneviève-Olive (1842-1883), daughter of Faustin I and Adélina. He thus became both nephew and son-in-law of the Emperor. After Faustin I’s death in 1867, the Crown Prince became head of the imperial household, and pretender, under the name of Joseph I. He worked to restore the monarchy, led the Imperialist Party, and ran for Senator in 1872. Upon his death, his son Joseph (1856-1922) — grandson of Faustin I —became Prince Imperial and pretender to the throne of Haiti as Joseph II. He lived in the Dominican Republic from 1918 until his death. 

Vil Lubin asserts to be the Head of The Imperial House of Faustin I. He uses the titles His Imperial Highness Prince Thierry of Haiti, Count of Léogane, Count of Petionville, Baron of Jean-Baptiste, and Knight of the Kingdom of Hayti. Vil Lubin claims descent from Princess Gènévieve Olive, the biological daughter of Empress Adélina, and the biological or adopted daughter — the sources are contradictory — of Emperor Faustin I of Haiti.

His Facebook site states that he is “a great-great-great-grandson of Emperor Faustin I of Haiti” as well as “the only descendant of any Haitian monarch to actually lay claim to the throne, ” adding that the “line of succession to the Haitian throne has been completely in oblivion since the death of Prince Joseph Soulouque [the pretender Joseph II] in 1922.” 

Vil Lubin believes that no legitimate claim may proceed from Emperor Jacques I (Dessalines) because his monarchy, according to the 1805 constitution, was not hereditary and because he died before designating his successor. Furthermore, Faustin’s Empire, with its new constitution, was not a legal continuation of Dessalines’, which should therefore be considered extinct.

Regarding any claims from potential successors of King Henry Christophe, whose Kingdom only comprised the northern part of the country, Vil Lubin rationalizes that his three children died without issue, and that “that line is obsolete.” Moreover, as a descendant of the Count of Léogane —  whose wife was a cousin of Henry’s Queen Marie Luisa — he considers himself a member of the Christophe family that should be accorded the dignity of Imperial and Royal Highness.

A graduate of the Université du Québec à Montréal, Vil Lubin lives in Canada. The Chancellor of the Imperial House is Carmelo Currò Troiano, Count Mirto.

Juchter van Bergen Quast is a Dutch lawyer and researcher who runs a well-regarded website on nobiliary law. He also heads the Institut de la Maison Impériale d’Haïti, and claims the dynastic rights of the former Imperial House of Haiti. His line of descent is illustrated in a “Genealogical Chart of the Heir Presumptive,” although more detailed pages analyzing his claim are password-protected. The pedigree he posted shows that his great uncle was married to Marie-Adéline Soulouque, daughter of Mainville—the nephew and designated heir of Emperor Faustin, who claimed the throne as Joseph I.

Regarding other possible claims to the Haitian throne, Juchter van Bergen Quast shared the following statement from the Institut: "The position of the current claimant can be displaced by an heir apparent or a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question. However, the Institute has no knowledge of such a person, although research in this matter has been conducted. The Institute appreciates persons coming forward, who have a related claim."  When asked about the claim of Thierry Jean-Baptiste Soulouque Nord Vil Lubin, Juchter van Bergen Quast responded that out of respect, he can not comment on the claims of others, noting that "it is for independent experts to decide." 

Letters Patent, 1861

Letters Patent from Emperor Faustin I of Haiti nominating Henry Delafield (1792–1875) as Consul of the Empire of Haiti in New York. 

Coin pattern, 1855 

10-cent copper coin pattern from 1855 depicting Emperor Faustin I in uniform and wearing a laurel crown. On the obverse are the imperial arms of Haiti. 

Newsmagazine cover, 1856 

Engraving of Emperor Faustin I and Empress Adeline in coronation attire on the cover of the French periodical L'Univers Illustré, 16 February 1856. 

Illustration, c. 1850 

Watercolor painting of Emperor Faustin I meeting with his council, c. 1850.

Pipe, 1850-1900 

Figural pipe stummel by Gambier depicting Empress Adélina of Haiti, 1850-1900.

Caricature book, 1850s 

Satirical caricature book by Cham of Emperor Faustin I, 1850. 

Caricatures, 1850s 

Satirical caricatures by Cham of Emperor Faustin I, 1850.
New acquisition: more information to come.