Husainid dynasty | |
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Country | Beylik of Tunis Kingdom of Tunisia |
Founded | 15 July 1705 |
Founder | Hussein I |
Current head | Muhammad XI Habib |
Final ruler | Muhammad VIII al-Amin |
Titles | Bey, King of Tunisia |
Deposition | 25 July 1957 |
The Husainid dynasty or Husaynid dynasty (Arabic: الحسينيون) was a ruling Turkish dynasty of the Beylik of Tunis. The dynasty was of Greek origin from the island of Crete.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] It came to power under al-Husayn I ibn Ali in 1705, succeeding the Muradid dynasty. After taking power, the Husainids ruled as Beys and ruled Tunisia until 1957.[4]
The Husainids originally ruled under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman sultans officially regarded them as beylerbeyis (provincial governors) and recognized their rights to hereditary succession.[1] Their succession to the throne was in theory determined by male primogeniture,[1][8] but this was not always followed and, especially in later periods, the throne was often granted to an older male family member along the collateral branches of the family.[1] The heir apparent to the Bey held the title Bey al-Mahalla and led the mahalla, a biannual tax collection expedition around the country.[9]
The Husaynid dynasty was founded by al-Husayn ibn Ali, a Turkish officer of Greek origin.
In his speeches, Bourgouiba frequently claimed that the Husaynids...were not really Tunisians, often referring to them as Greeks.
The dynasty of the Husaynids, founded by Husayn Ibn 'All, an Ottoman agha of Greek origin, ruled Tunisia until 1957 when, after independence, it was abolished and a republic was announced.
Founded by the son of a Muslim from Venetian-ruled and subsequently Ottoman-controlled Crete, the Husaynid dynasty (1705-1957) mirrored the larger play of trans-Mediterranean politics for two and a half centuries.