Muhammad VII al-Munsif was the ruler of Tunisia between 19 June 1942 and 14 May 1943.

He was born in La Manouba the son of Muhammad V an-Nasir

Muhammad V an-Nasir

Muhammad V an-Nasir, GCMG was the ruler of Tunisia between 11 May 1906 and 10 July 1922.-Notes:Source: at www.4dw.net...

 Pasha. He was appointed heir apparent to the Beylik of Tunis

Beylik of Tunis

-Ottoman beylik:The Beylik of Tunis was founded on July 15, 1705, after the Husainid Dynasty led by Al-Husayn I ibn Ali at-Turki defeated the Turkish Deys....

 with the title of Bey al-Mahalla

Bey al-Mahalla

Bey al-Mahalla meaning Bey of the Camp, was a title for the heir apparent to throne of the Beylik of Tunis. The title was given to the most senior member of the Beylical family after the reigning Bey. The title came the style of Highness...

 on April 30, 1942.

Muhammad became bey of Tunis

Tunis

Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....

 on the death of his cousin Ahmad II ibn Ali. In 1942 he attempted to free Tunis from French control and establish an independent government. The Free French Forces

Free French Forces

The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...

 deposed Muhammad on May 14, 1943, on the accusation that he was a Vichy

Vichy France

Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...

 collaborator and he was succeeded by his cousin Muhammad VIII al-Amin

Muhammad VIII al-Amin

Muhammad VIII al-Amin was the last bey of Tunisia . He was the first head of state of independent Tunisia from 1956 until he was deposed in 1957...

. He formally abdicated on July 6, 1943.

After his deposition, Muhammad was exiled firstly to Laghouat

Laghouat

Laghouat is the capital city of the Laghouat Province, Algeria, 400 km south of the Algerian capital Algiers in the Atlas Mountains. As of 2005, the population of the city was 126,291 inhabitants. Nearby, in Hassi R'Mel, there is the largest natural gas reserve in Africa.The city was founded in...

 in southern Algeria

Algeria

Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...

, then to Ténès

Ténès

Tenes is an Algerian seaside resort located about 200 kilometers west of the capital Algiers; it has a population of 35,000 people, .-History:Ténès is an ancient town which existed in the 8th century BC. It was called Kartenas at that time...

, before finally moving in 1945 to Pau in France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, where he died in 1948.

Marriages and children

Muhammad VII was married four times, his first wife was a cousin Princess Traki (died 1919) who he married in October, 1900 at Sidi Bou Said

Sidi Bou Said

Sidi Bou Said is a town in northern Tunisia located about 20 km from the capital, Tunis.The town got its name for a Muslim religious figure who lived there, Abou Said ibn Khalef ibn Yahia Ettamini el Beji . The town itself is a tourist attraction as it is known for the extensive use of blue and...

. Princess Traki was the mother of his four children.

• Prince Salah ud-din Bey (1902–1938)
• Prince Muhammad ar-Rauf Bey (1903–1977)
• Prince 'Umar Bey (1904–1938)
• Princess Farida (born 1911)

Muhammad VII was married a further three times firstly to Lalla Zubaida, this marriage ended in divorce. His third wife was another cousin Princess Habiba (1888–1969) this marriage also ended in divorce in 1942. His fourth wife was Lalla Arbiya (died 1974) who he married in August, 1942. His fourth wife Arbiya accompanied him into exile.