Hussein II Bey

Hussein II Bey , born the March 5th 1784 and deceased the May 20th 1835 with the palate of the Bardo, is Bey de Tunis of 1824 to its death.

Oldest son of Mahmoud Bey, it is designated as crown prince the February 20th 1815 and succeeds his father the March 28th 1824. He is named major general of the Othoman imperial army the December 23rd 1831.

In July 1827, it learns not without surprise that the French declared the war with the Dey of Algiers but nobody doubts whereas the dey is able to defy the French power because Algiers passes, in most of the Mediterranean basin, for an impregnable city owing to the fact that it is defended by the Turks. However, the October 20th, occurs the irremediable defeat of the Turkish fleet to the Bataille of Navarin where a Tunisian naval division is also destroyed except for a brig and of a Goélette. This victory free-anglo-Russian makes reflect Hussein II Bey who informs the consul of France, Mathieu de Lesseps, which it will keep strict a Neutralité in the conflict which will put at the catches France and the regency of Algiers. The catch of Algiers by the French troops in July 1830 produces with Tunis a considerable dissatisfaction: at the request of the population, members of the government try to push Hussein II with the Holy war but the bey recommends to keep the calm one. With the assistance of part of the entourage of the bey, Lesseps, by proclamations written in Arab and secretly widespread in the Capital and the agglomerations of the interior of the country, justifies the French intervention in Algérie and recruits even volunteers Turkish to be used in the French Army as Algeria.

One month after the catch of Algiers, France concludes, with Hussein II, a treaty on August 8th which confirms the old treaties abolishing the slavery Christians in regency, the Pirate laughs and ensures the freedom of trade and the traffic for all the foreigners established in regency. This treaty also stipulates the final suppression of the use of the present, gifts and royalties granted to the bey and to his ministers by Europeans. By a secret and additional agreement with the treaty, the bey yields to the king de France a site with Carthage to raise there a memorial in the honor of the king Louis IX.

Starting from this date, Tunis enters during one time when the European presence will gradually be felt following the growing French influence, the exchange growth commercial between Marseilles and Tunis and on arrival in this town of many Italy NS, Maltais, French and Greek that the catch of Algiers and the French influence on the bey put in confidence.

Deceased in 1835, it is buried with the Mausolée Tourbet El Bey located in the Médina of Tunis.

Anecdote

Following the destruction of Tunisian naval division, on October 20th, 1827, Hussein II Bey decides the creation of a Drapeau to use by the Tunisian Flotte to distinguish it from the other fleets. It is the circumstance of the birth of the Drapeau of Tunisia created in 1831.

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