Written by Attila Çetin and translated by Dr. Mustafa Stiti, this book presents a picture of Tunisia during the nineteenth century. It depicts its administrative, social and political conditions and its relationship with the Ottoman Empire and the modernization movements in which “Hayreddin Pasha” was involved.
In an introduction and five chapters, the writer tries to present rare documents written about “Hayreddin Pasha” in the Turkish language but remained neglected in the archive.
“Hayreddin Pasha”, the Tunisian Pioneer of Reform
Khayr ed-Din Pasha et-Tunsi is considered one of the most important figures in Ottoman history in general and in Tunisian history in particular, especially during the nineteenth century. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Tunisian youth movement, which had the greatest impact in the history of the modern Tunisian struggle for freedom and independence.
Hayreddin was considered one of the heralds of the first steps of reform in Tunisia. He held the position of Grand Vizier, the highest political rank after the bey.
In his book “Aqwam al-masalik fi maarifat ahwal al-mamalik” (The Rightest Paths in Knowing the Conditions of Kingdoms), which he published in 1868, Hayreddin looked at the causes of the decline of the Islamic world, and indicated the necessary solutions and ways to implement reforms through modern technologies and institutions that should be borrowed from Europe in order to be in harmony with the modern times.
Hayreddin spent the last part of his life (1878 to 1890) in Istanbul, and he refused to assume political positions after his resignation from the position of Grand Vizier, yet when he moved to Turkey, Sultan Abdul Hamid II assigned him to supervise some important committees.
Book chapters:
The book consists of five chapters and a general introduction in which the author draws a picture of Tunisia during the period of Hayreddin, before he moved to Turkey and died there.
The First Chapter: This chapter summarizes in detail the political and private life of “Hayreddin Pasha” since his early childhood, his recruitment to Tunisia, his formation, his affiliation with the military school, his promotion and sending on incendiary political missions to European and Asian countries.
Chapter Two: It is concerned with studying the book “Aqwam al-masalik fi maarifat ahwal al-mamalik” which Hayreddin started in 1862 after he gave up political work. It was first published in 1868.
Chapter Three: highlights the period that Hayreddin spent in Tunisia since his presidency of the International Finance Committee and his assumption of the position of Grand Minister between 1873 and 1877. It also sheds light on the major reforms carried out by Khayr ed-Din Pasha et-Tunsi and his shuttle tours between Europe and Asia before his retirement from every position and his response to the invitation of Sultan Abdul Hamid II.
Chapter Four: In this part, the author is concerned with the achievements of Hayreddin in the Ottoman Empire, in addition to some of his private matters such as family relations, the documents he left and his wills.
Chapter Five: In this section, the author sought to take note of the regulations presented by Hayreddin to Sultan Abdul Hamid II during his tenure as the Grand Vizier, and the magazines for reorganizing the administration in the Ottoman Empire and his reform programs.
This book, translated by Dr. Mustafa Sititi at the request of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage Preservation, is an important work in revealing what was hidden from the history of the Tunisian country in an important period of its contemporary history.
Khayr ed-Din Pasha et-Tunsi is considered one of the most important pioneers of Arab and Muslim reform in modern and contemporary history.
This book, with what it reveals of documents that have remained rare and hidden from the eyes of Tunisian scholars who do not know the Turkish language, represents an important reference in introducing a prominent page in the history of Tunisia in relation to the Ottoman legacy.
