Timeline / 1820 to 1900 / TUNISIA
Date
Country
Theme
1830
Tunisia
Political Context
With the capture of Algiers, France ousts the Ottoman Empire and asserts its claim
to the western Mediterranean. The beys and the regency’s elite then become
aware of the dangers posed by the Europeans.
1830 - 1880
Tunisia
Cities And Urban Spaces
Tunis is a cosmopolitan city. According to M. J. Henry Dunant, when visiting the
regency in 1856, he noted that: “more than 15 Christian nations are represented by
a number of their nationals in Tunis”.
1837 - 1855
Tunisia
Reforms And Social Changes
Ahmad Pasha Bey is known as the “Great Reformer” of modern Tunisia.
Enlightened and open-minded, he tries to modernise both State and Army.
1837 - 1854
Tunisia
Political Context
Rule of Ahmad Pasha Bey, known as the “Great Reformer” of modern Tunisia.
His greatest achievements include modernisation of the army and the abolition of
slavery.
1837 - 1840
Tunisia
Reforms And Social Changes
Foundation of the Polytechnic or military school of Bardo, responsible for the
education of executives of the army and public administration. The School provides
education in the art of military strategy, scientific disciplines, foreign languages,
literature and religion.
Date
Country
Theme
1840 - 1880
Tunisia
Rediscovering The Past
Abbot Bourgade and Father Delattre excavate the Punic and Roman ruins of
Carthage and then set up the first archaeological collections of the Saint Louis
Museum in Carthage and the Alaoui Museum in Bardo.
1840 - 1855
Tunisia
Travelling
Khayr al-Din, the reforming minister of Tunisia, conducts various missions in
Europe and to the Sublime Porte (Sublime Gate), the honorific title used for
Istanbul during the Ottoman Empire.
1842
Tunisia
Reforms And Social Changes
Educational reform and restructuring of the Zaytuna Mosque through the
introduction of new disciplines and incentives for teachers in Tunisia.
1846
Tunisia
Travelling
Ahmad Pasha Bey is received by King Louis Philippe at the Tuileries Palace.
He stays at the Élysée Palace. He visits the parliament, the Hôtel des invalids,
Napoleon’s tomb and the Palace of Versailles.
1846 - 1856
Tunisia
Travelling
A period of intense diplomatic activity between the Regency of Tunis and Western
governments, which sees 20 diplomatic or consular agencies in Europe and the
East represent the regency.
1846
Tunisia
Reforms And Social Changes
Date
Country
Theme
Ahmad Pasha Bey promulgates a decree freeing all black slaves in the country.
Everyone born in Tunisia is declared free regardless of their parents’ origins.
1847 - 1848
Tunisia
Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Following creation of, in the Regency of Tunis, the first mail-distribution system,
the first aerial telegraph system is inaugurated connecting the Bardo, official
headquarters of the Bey’s government, with Tunis and La Goulette.
1854
Tunisia
Travelling
A contingent of the Tunisian army is called upon to participate alongside the
Ottoman Empire, France and England in the Crimean War.
1857
Tunisia
Political Context
Promulgation of the Fundamental Pact by Muhammad Pasha Bey: a “Declaration
of Rights” in 11 points. The pact guarantees Tunisians and also foreigners their
civil and political rights, security of persons and properties, equality before the law,
etc.
1857
Tunisia
Reforms And Social Changes
Promulgation of the Fundamental Pact by Muhammad Pasha Bey: a “Declaration
of Rights” in 11 points. The pact guarantees Tunisians and also foreigners their
civil and political rights, security of persons and properties, equality before the law,
etc.
1858
Tunisia
Cities And Urban Spaces
Date
Country
Theme
Under the reign of Muhammad Pasha Bey a major reform is carried out: the capital,
Tunis, is established as a municipal town and a city council is elected. Further
municipal towns were created in other parts of the country: Sfax, Sousse and
Kairouan among others.
1860 - 1863
Tunisia
Economy And Trade
Restoration of the Zaghouan Aqueduct, Tunisia’s largest water-service network,
allows supply to the capital and its suburbs.
1860
Tunisia
Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
The restoration of the Aqueduct of Zaghouan is completed, running water arrives in
Tunis.
1860 - 1900
Tunisia
Cities And Urban Spaces
Following development of the Port of La Goulette, new districts relating to trade
and industrial activities are born. The neighbourhood is given the name of “Little
Sicily”, which is suggestive of its role as host to a poor immigrant population mainly
from southern Italy.
1861
Tunisia
Political Context
Muhammad Sadiq Bey promulgates a constitution limiting his powers. Tunisia’s
first constitution is the culmination of the reformist policies of the 19th-century
Husaynid beys.
1864
Tunisia
Political Context
Date
Country
Theme
The popular uprising sounds the death knell for reform. The great figure of this
insurrection, ‘Ali bin Ghedham, comes from the region of Kasserine.
1872 - 1874
Tunisia
Cities And Urban Spaces
The city of Tunis benefits from the first installation of public street lighting. An
English company builds a gasometer and installs the pipelines necessary to supply
gas for street lighting of the city’s main arteries.
1873 - 1877
Tunisia
Political Context
The regency of Khayr al-Din, the Grand Vizier reformer, who reorganises
institutions and the economy. His major cultural works are the creation of Sadiki
College and major reform of the Zaytuna Mosque.
1873 - 1877
Tunisia
Economy And Trade
Khayr al-Din undertakes reform of the Tunisian economy.
1875
Tunisia
Rediscovering The Past
The Saint Louis Museum in Carthage is founded in the former seminary of the
White Fathers.
1875
Tunisia
Reforms And Social Changes
Date
Country
Theme
The creation of Sadiki College based on a modern concept of education: the
school separates from the mosque and a distinction is made between educational
structures and those of the religious life.
1880 - 1890
Tunisia
Fine And Applied Arts
It was the era of eclecticism. The French Protectorate builds the regency’s
infrastructure in the European classical tradition, constructing monuments in the
impressive Greco-Roman style.
1881 - 1884
Tunisia
Political Context
Tunisians put up stiff resistance to French occupation without any external support.
The Sublime Porte, itself threatened by the Western powers, limits the show of
protest against the French occupation.
1881 - 1883
Tunisia
Political Context
At the metropolitan palace, Muhammad Sadiq Bey signs the treaty imposed by the
French Protectorate known as the Treaty of Bardo (or Treaty of Kasser al-Sa‘id).
This is followed by the Convention of Marsa in 1883. The Regency of Tunis passes
from Ottoman suzerainty to French domination.
1882
Tunisia
Rediscovering The Past
The Alaoui Museum is founded in the bey’s palace in Bardo, in a wing of the
complex formerly used to host the bey’s harem.
1882
Tunisia
Migrations
Date
Country
Theme
Inauguration of the new Catholic Cathedral in Tunis, designed in the monumental
Greco-Roman style, in line with the image France intends to convey in the early
days of its protectorate over the regency.
1886
Tunisia
Travelling
Muhammad Sadiq Bey on a visit to Algiers is received by Napoleon III.
1888 - 1893
Tunisia
Economy And Trade
Completion of the Port of La Goulette. After five years in construction, the port
complex opens to trade on 28 May 1893.
1888 - 1892
Tunisia
Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Establishment of the Tunisian Post and Telegraphs Office; during this time the first
Tunisian postage stamp was issued and the Hôtel des postes (Post Office building)
was inaugurated in Tunis.
1888 - 1893
Tunisia
Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Completion of the Port of La Goulette; a large, modern complex accessible to large
vessels, brings development to the city of Tunis.
1890 - 1900
Tunisia
Fine And Applied Arts
Date
Country
Theme
Construction of public and private buildings in the arabisance style, which proposes
a synthesis of European architectural styles with Arab and Spanish-North African
architecture.
1891
Tunisia
Economy And Trade
Monetary reform: the administration of the protectorate decides to replace the
Tunisian monetary unit the “piastre” with the French Franc.
1893
Tunisia
Reforms And Social Changes
Creation of the first analytical laboratory as part of the services that later became
the Pasteur Institute, initially providing a rabies treatment service, and then offering
a vaccination centre.
1896
Tunisia
Reforms And Social Changes
Creation of Khaldunia. The purpose of this institution located near the Zaytuna
Mosque was to spread scientific knowledge among the Arab communities, and
especially among students of Zaytuna University. Its name refers to the great Arab
thinker Ibn Khaldun.
1897
Tunisia
Reforms And Social Changes
Creation of the French civil hospital provides a surgery and two general medical
services to meet the needs of the European population from the outset.