Muhammad VI al-Habib (Arabic: محمد الحبيب باي, Muḥamad el-Ḥabīb Bāy), commonly known as Habib Bey (13 August 1858 in Le Bardo – 13 February 1929 in Carthage)[1] was the sixteenth HusainidBey of Tunis, reigning from 10 July 1922 until 11 February 1929.[citation needed]
His father was Mohamed el-Mamoune Bey, the younger child of Hassine II Bey who had died young in 1861 without ruling when Habib was only three years old, and his mother was a Circassianodalisque named Fatma. His uncle Muhammad III as-Sadiq took charge of his education and married him to the niece of his Grand VizierMustapha Ben Ismaïl, his favourite courtier and mainstay of authority in the Regency of Tunis. Made Bey al-Mahalla (Heir Apparent) on 12 May 1906, he succeeded his cousin Muhammad V an-Nasir on 8 July 1922.[2] He was made a Divisional General in the beylical army on the same day he became Bey al Mahalla and was promoted to Marshal when he succeeded to the throne.
Throughout his reign he did not seek to hinder the authorities of the French protectorate, in contrast to the approach of his predecessor. He came to the throne deeply in debt and without any support owing to his coming from a branch of the family that was not close to power. He therefore remained reliant on the good graces of the French Resident General, Lucien Saint.
Nevertheless, the aftermath of the First World War saw a change in relations between France and its colonies. About 80,000 Tunisians, mostly conscripted, had served in the French army, and about 20,000 had been killed or wounded.[3] The Ottoman Empire, which until its dissolution had been the nominal suzerain of the Beys of Tunis, no longer existed. Ideas of self-determination were growing, and the Tunisian national movement regrouped in 1922 with the foundation of the Destour party. The French authorities took a number of political initiatives, establishing consultative councils including the Grand Council and regional (caïdat) councils and introducing new laws allowing some Tunisians to acquire French nationality. These initiatives galvanised the Destourians, prompting Habib Bey to advise Abdelaziz Thâalbi to leave the country if he continued to oppose them.[4]
Habib Bey took part in the inauguration of the Grand Mosque of Paris in July 1926 along with Mouley Youssef of Morocco.[5] He was also the first Tunisian ruler to have his name included in Friday prayers, replacing the Ottoman caliph.
Lucien Saint invited him and his sons Azzedine Bey and Lamine Bey to make a private visit to Marignac in July 1923 and again the following year.
He bought the palais Zarrouk in Carthage[6] where he lived, by the sea, until his death. He was buried in the Tourbet el Bey in the medina of Tunis. He was succeeded by Ahmed Bey.
References
^Arthur Pellegrin, Histoire de la Tunisie depuis les origines jusqu'à nos jours, éd. La Rapide, Tunis, 1944, p. 175
muhammad, habib, arabic, محمد, الحبيب, باي, muḥamad, Ḥabīb, bāy, commonly, known, habib, august, 1858, bardo, february, 1929, carthage, sixteenth, husainid, tunis, reigning, from, july, 1922, until, february, 1929, citation, needed, tunisreign8, july, 1922, fe. Muhammad VI al Habib Arabic محمد الحبيب باي Muḥamad el Ḥabib Bay commonly known as Habib Bey 13 August 1858 in Le Bardo 13 February 1929 in Carthage 1 was the sixteenth Husainid Bey of Tunis reigning from 10 July 1922 until 11 February 1929 citation needed Muhammad VI al HabibBey of TunisReign8 July 1922 13 February 1929PredecessorMuhammad V an NasirSuccessorAhmad II of TunisBorn 1858 08 13 13 August 1858Le Bardo Beylik of TunisDied13 February 1929 1929 02 13 aged 70 Palais Zarrouk Carthage French protectorate of TunisiaDynastyHusainidesReligionIslamHis father was Mohamed el Mamoune Bey the younger child of Hassine II Bey who had died young in 1861 without ruling when Habib was only three years old and his mother was a Circassian odalisque named Fatma His uncle Muhammad III as Sadiq took charge of his education and married him to the niece of his Grand Vizier Mustapha Ben Ismail his favourite courtier and mainstay of authority in the Regency of Tunis Made Bey al Mahalla Heir Apparent on 12 May 1906 he succeeded his cousin Muhammad V an Nasir on 8 July 1922 2 He was made a Divisional General in the beylical army on the same day he became Bey al Mahalla and was promoted to Marshal when he succeeded to the throne Throughout his reign he did not seek to hinder the authorities of the French protectorate in contrast to the approach of his predecessor He came to the throne deeply in debt and without any support owing to his coming from a branch of the family that was not close to power He therefore remained reliant on the good graces of the French Resident General Lucien Saint Nevertheless the aftermath of the First World War saw a change in relations between France and its colonies About 80 000 Tunisians mostly conscripted had served in the French army and about 20 000 had been killed or wounded 3 The Ottoman Empire which until its dissolution had been the nominal suzerain of the Beys of Tunis no longer existed Ideas of self determination were growing and the Tunisian national movement regrouped in 1922 with the foundation of the Destour party The French authorities took a number of political initiatives establishing consultative councils including the Grand Council and regional caidat councils and introducing new laws allowing some Tunisians to acquire French nationality These initiatives galvanised the Destourians prompting Habib Bey to advise Abdelaziz Thaalbi to leave the country if he continued to oppose them 4 Habib Bey took part in the inauguration of the Grand Mosque of Paris in July 1926 along with Mouley Youssef of Morocco 5 He was also the first Tunisian ruler to have his name included in Friday prayers replacing the Ottoman caliph Lucien Saint invited him and his sons Azzedine Bey and Lamine Bey to make a private visit to Marignac in July 1923 and again the following year He bought the palais Zarrouk in Carthage 6 where he lived by the sea until his death He was buried in the Tourbet el Bey in the medina of Tunis He was succeeded by Ahmed Bey References Edit Arthur Pellegrin Histoire de la Tunisie depuis les origines jusqu a nos jours ed La Rapide Tunis 1944 p 175 Arthur Pellegrin op cit p 173 Algeria Tunisia and Morocco 1700 1950 by Sanderson Beck Kenneth Perkins A History of Modern Tunisia Cambridge University Press 2014 p 89 Ingvar Svanberg amp David Westerlund Islam Outside the Arab World Routledge 2012 p 344 http www persee fr doc etaf 0768 2352 1974 mon 1 1 p 288 accessed 1 5 2017 Preceded byMuhammad V an Nasir Bey of Tunis1922 1929 Succeeded byAhmad II ibn Ali Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Muhammad VI al Habib amp oldid 1153267247, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
