IV. The Early Modern Period, 1500–1800 > C. The Middle East and North Africa, 1500–1800 > 3. North Africa, 1504–1799 > b. Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya > 1682, April 10
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1682, April 10
 
Treaty of peace and commerce between Britain and Algiers. It dealt primarily with protections for piracy and the rights of British subjects in Algiers, and was renewed and enlarged several times (in 1686, 1700, 1703, 1716, 1729, 1762, and 1800).  1
 
1696
 
Construction of the Sidi Mehrez Mosque in Tunis by the ruler Murad II (1659–75). The building, dedicated to the patron saint of Tunis, strongly reflected the influences of Ottoman imperial architecture.  2
 
1702
 
END OF THE MURADID DYNASTY IN TUNISIA. The last bey, Murad III, was assassinated following a plot by the military officer Ibrahim al-Sharif, who immediately assumed the offices of both dey and bey. Algerian forces invaded Tunisia and captured him but were finally repulsed by Husayn ibn Ali, a cavalry officer in Muradid service who seized power.  3
 
1705–35
 
HUSAYN IBN ALI, FOUNDER OF THE HUSAYNID DYNASTY IN TUNISIA. After securing for himself the title of bey he arranged for the position to become hereditary in his family, which held the office until the abolition of the monarchy in 1957. His rule brought calm to the country, in which he built wells, bridges, markets, and mosques.  4
 
1708
 
Algerian forces took Oran, held by the Spanish since 1509. The Spanish reconquered it in 1732 but finally surrendered it in 1792.  5
 
1711–45
 
AHMAD QARAMANLI, FOUNDER OF THE QARAMANLI DYNASTY IN TRIPOLI. A local officer and son of a Turkish corsair, he seized power and was recognized by the Ottomans as governor. Under his dynasty, which ruled until 1835, the provinces of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica were united. He sponsored corsair ventures but maintained treaties of peace and commerce with both Britain and France. He restored the fortifications of Tripoli and constructed there a mosque and religious college that bear his name.  6
 
1716, July 19
 
Treaty of peace and capitulations between Britain and Tripoli. Britain accredited a resident consul at Tripoli as early as 1658 and had concluded five treaties with Tripoli between 1658 and 1694, dealing largely with the regulation of piracy.  7
 
1735–56
 
Rule of Ali Pasha in Tunisia. With the help of Algerian troops he deposed his uncle Husayn ibn Ali, whom he executed in 1740, and ruled until 1756, when Husayn's son Muhammad recaptured the throne and restored Husaynid rule.  8
 
1751, Oct. 19
 
Treaty of peace and commerce between Britain and Tunis. It laid down in detail provisions for the avoidance of piracy, enlarging on the first durable treaty between the two countries concluded in 1662 and expanded in 1716. A British consul was appointed to Tunis in 1638.  9
 
1759–82
 
Ali Bey ruled in Tunis. He had the sultani gold coins debased and reduced in size in response to increased competition with multinational currencies in the Mediterranean.  10
 
1766–91
 
Muhammad ibn Uthman Dey ruled in Algiers. One of the most capable deys, he tried to establish greater central authority in Algeria, but provincial appointees in Constantine and Oran asserted their independence with the help of local tribal leaders.  11
Algerian privateering declined sharply during the period. The size of the corsair fleet fell to ten ships, and the human and material spoils dwindled. In 1788 the number of captives held in Algiers stood at about 1,000, down from a high of 25,000 in the 17th century. With the lucrative revenue from piracy drying up, taxes had to be raised, causing popular discontent.  12
 
1768–70
 
French-Tunisian war. When Ali Bey of Tunis refused a French demand to release the Corsican ships and passengers seized by his corsairs, France declared war and bombarded the ports of La Goulette, Bizerte, and Sousse. The bey agreed to a treaty of peace (signed Sept. 13, 1770) and restored to the (French) Royal Company of Africa coral fishery rights off the Tunisian coast.  13
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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