Mustapha Khaznadar
Encyclopedia
Mustapha Khaznadar was Prime Minister
of the Beylik of Tunis
from 1837 to 1873. He was one of the most influential people in modern Tunisia
n history.
ancestry as Georgios Kalkias Stravelakis on the island of Chios
in 1817. In January 1822, the Greeks of Chios declared their independence
from the Ottoman Empire
, the Ottoman sultan soon sent an army of ten thousand to the island of Chios, where roughly twenty thousand Greek inhabitants were massacred and many women and children were taken into slavery. During the Chios massacre
, Georgios's father Stephanis Kalkias Stravelakis was killed, Georgios along with his brother Yannis were captured and sold into slavery by the Ottomans. He was then taken to Smyrna
and then Constantinople, where he was sold as a slave to an envoy of the Husainid Dynasty
who were Beys of Tunis and originally of Greek
origin.
and took the name Mustafa and was raised in the family by Mustapha Bey
, then by his son Ahmad I
Bey while he was still crown prince. Initially, he worked as the prince's private treasurer
before becoming Ahmad I
Bey's treasurer (khaznadar). He managed to climb to the highest offices of the Tunisian state and married Princess Lalla Kalthoum in 1839 and was promoted to lieutenant-general of the army, made bey
in 1840 and then president
of the Grand Council from 1862 to 1878. In 1864, Mustapha Khaznadar then Prime Minister attempted to squeeze more taxes out of the Tunisian peasants, the countryside rebelled and rose in a revolt nearly overthrowing the regime, however the government was swift to act and ultimately suppressed the uprising through a combination of brutality and guile. Mustafa Khaznadar retained memories of his Greek origin and contact with his native Greece
, even sending ten thousand riyals
from the state treasury to pay for his two Greek nephews he was educating in Paris
. Khaznadar died in 1878 and is buried in a mausoleum at Tourbet El Bey, in the heart of the Medina
of Tunis
.
Prime Minister of Tunisia
The Prime Minister of the Tunisian Republic is the head of government of Tunisia. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Tunisia...
of 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....
from 1837 to 1873. He was one of the most influential people in modern Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n history.
Early life
Mustapha Khaznadar was born of GreekGreeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
ancestry as Georgios Kalkias Stravelakis on the island of Chios
Chios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
in 1817. In January 1822, the Greeks of Chios declared their independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
from the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, the Ottoman sultan soon sent an army of ten thousand to the island of Chios, where roughly twenty thousand Greek inhabitants were massacred and many women and children were taken into slavery. During the Chios massacre
Chios Massacre
The Chios Massacre refers to the slaughter of tens of thousands of Greeks on the island of Chios by Ottoman troops during the Greek War of Independence in 1822. Greeks from neighbouring islands arrived on Chios and encouraged the Chians to join the struggle for independence. In response, Ottoman...
, Georgios's father Stephanis Kalkias Stravelakis was killed, Georgios along with his brother Yannis were captured and sold into slavery by the Ottomans. He was then taken to Smyrna
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
and then Constantinople, where he was sold as a slave to an envoy of the Husainid Dynasty
Husainid Dynasty
The Husainid Dynasty is the former ruling dynasty of Tunisia originally of Cretan origin. They came to power under Al-Husayn I ibn Ali at-Turki in 1705 replacing the Muradid Dynasty. After taking power the Husainids ruled as Beys with succession to the throne determined by age with the oldest...
who were Beys of Tunis and originally of Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
origin.
Religious conversion and political career
Stravelakis converted to IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and took the name Mustafa and was raised in the family by Mustapha Bey
Mustafa ibn Mahmud
Mustafa ibn Mahmud was the ninth leader of the Husainid Dynasty and the ruler of Tunisia from 1835 until his death in 1837....
, then by his son Ahmad I
Ahmad I ibn Mustafa
Ahmad I ibn Mustafa was the tenth leader of the Husainid Dynasty and ruled Tunisia as Bey of Tunis from October 10, 1837 to his death on May 30, 1855.-References:...
Bey while he was still crown prince. Initially, he worked as the prince's private treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
before becoming Ahmad I
Ahmad I ibn Mustafa
Ahmad I ibn Mustafa was the tenth leader of the Husainid Dynasty and ruled Tunisia as Bey of Tunis from October 10, 1837 to his death on May 30, 1855.-References:...
Bey's treasurer (khaznadar). He managed to climb to the highest offices of the Tunisian state and married Princess Lalla Kalthoum in 1839 and was promoted to lieutenant-general of the army, made bey
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
in 1840 and then president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Grand Council from 1862 to 1878. In 1864, Mustapha Khaznadar then Prime Minister attempted to squeeze more taxes out of the Tunisian peasants, the countryside rebelled and rose in a revolt nearly overthrowing the regime, however the government was swift to act and ultimately suppressed the uprising through a combination of brutality and guile. Mustafa Khaznadar retained memories of his Greek origin and contact with his native Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, even sending ten thousand riyals
Tunisian rial
The rial was the currency of Tunis until 1891. It was subdivided into 16 kharub , each of 13 fals . The fals was further subdivided into 6 qafsi . The nasri was worth 2 fals. The denomination was often either not given on coins or only indicated by a numeral...
from the state treasury to pay for his two Greek nephews he was educating in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Khaznadar died in 1878 and is buried in a mausoleum at Tourbet El Bey, in the heart of the Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
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....
.