Cap-Haïtien (; ) often referred to as
Le Cap or
Au Cap, is a
commune of about 190,000 people on the north coast of
Haiti and capital of the Department of
Nord. Previously named as
Cap-Français,
Cap-Henri and historically known as the
Paris of the Antilles, displaying its wealth and sophistication through its beautiful architecture and artistic life. It was an important city during the colonial period, serving as the capital of the French Colony of
Saint-Domingue from the city's formal foundation in 1711 until 1770 when the capital was moved to
Port-au-Prince. After the Haitian Revolution, it became the capital of the
Kingdom of Northern Haiti under King
Henri Christophe until 1820.