Husayn was born a
Kouloughli, which is a term used to refer to an
Ottoman father and a local
North African mother. His father was a Muslim of
Cretan Greek origin and his mother was a
Tunisian. The Husaynids were often called "Greeks" by
Habib Bourguiba and, until recently, discussion of their origins was taboo. In 1702 the
janissary commander
Ibrahim Sharif, of whom he was lieutenant, expelled the
Muradid Dynasty from Tunis. Three years later, after Sharif had been captured by the
Dey of Algiers, he took control of the Turkish army in Tunis and, on 12 July 1705, had himself proclaimed
Bey of Tunis. He had one of his close relatives proclaimed
dey by the
Constantinople diwan, an act which increased his popularity amongst the Ottoman janissaries, and he was also able to gain support from his Tunisian subjects; however, his entourage was mostly composed of
Mamluks. Husayn's first councillor was a Frenchman from
Toulon, a literate man who had helped him in gaining power. He imposed a unity upon the country by having Sharif assassinated at
Ghar el-Melh upon his release from captivity. A pious man, Al-Husayn also used Islam to unite Tunisia's numerous different ethnicities. He built numerous edifices dedicated to religion and religious studies (
madrasas), such as the Madrasahs of the Dyers (1727) and al-Husseyniah in Tunis, as well as the mosque of
Le Bardo and other madrasas in the country's mainland (
Kairouan,
Sfax,
Sousse and
Nafta). In 1726 he ordered the construction of
El Jedid Mosque in Tunis. Husayn tried to establish a succession to the title of bey for his sons
Muhammad and
Ali (born in 1710 and 1712, respectively). His nephew
Ali Pasha, who had been plotting against him and had been therefore put under surveillance by Husayn, was able to escape and revolted, with the help of local tribes and of the
Dey of Algiers. The latter invaded Tunisia and defeated Husayn at the battle of Smindja on 4 September 1735. Husayn was forced to flee to Sousse, while his troops in Tunis capitulated. Husayn was captured and beheaded on 13 September 1740. ==References==