1943 - [1962] H.M. Muhammad
al-Amin [Lamine], King of Tunisia. b. at Dar
as-Shad, Carthage, 4th September 1881,
youngest son H.H. Muhammad al-Habib Pasha, Bey and
Possessor of the Kingdom of Tunis., by his first wife, Lalla
Fatima [Fattoùma El Ismailia], educ. privately.
Invested as Heir Apparent with the title of Bey al-Mahalla
and the style of His Highness, 25th
June 1942. Proclaimed on the abdication of his cousin as
Bey and Possessor of the Kingdom of Tunis, 15th
May 1943. Installed on the same day at the Baît
al-Bellar, of the Palace of Bardo. Proclaimed the
independence of Tunisia, 20th March 1956.
Subsequently assumed the title of King of Tunisia
with the style of His Majesty. The Royal
Guard at Carthage Palace was replaced by soldiers loyal
to Bourguiba, the telephones cut and the Royal Family
placed under house arrest, 15th July 1957.
Deposed by the Constituent Assembly, 25th July
1957, but never abdicated or ceded his rights. Lived
under government surveillance at La Manouba, until
allowed to return to Tunis just after the death of his
wife. Sovereign and Grand Master of the Nishan al-Ahad
al-Aman, Nishan ad-Dam, and Nishan
al-Iftikhar. Founded the Other of Independence (Nishan
al-Istiqlal) in five classes on 6th
September 1956. Lieut-Col. Beylical Army before 1926,
prom. Lieut-Gen. 25/6/1942, Field Marshal 15/5/1943. Rcvd:
Nishan al-Ahad al-Aman al-Murassa
(25.6.1942), and Nishan ad-Dam, and GC of
the Nishan al-Iftikhar while a young
prince, the Grand Collar of the Order of Idris I of
Libya, the Collar of the Order of Muhammadiya of Morocco
(1956), and the GC of the Orders of the Legion of Honour
in brilliants (15.5.1943), Black Star of Benin, Star of
Anjouan, and the Cross of Lorraine (1945) of France, GC
of the Civil Order of Merit of Spain (1927), the Sharifan
Order of Alawi of Morocco, Muhammad 'Ali of Egypt, and
Renaissance of Jordan, Cdr. with star of the Order of St
Sylvester of the Vatican (30.11.1931). m. 1902, as
his only wife, H.H. Princess (Lalla) Janina
[Djeneïna] Beya (b. at Tunis, ca. 1887; d.
at La Soukra, October 1960, bur. Sidi 'Abdu'l Aziz
Cemetery, La Marsa), rcvd: the Nishan al-Ahad
al-Aman al-Murassa (15.5.1944), and
Cdr. of the Order of the Legion of Honour of France
(1947), who had been raised in the household of his
mother, daughter of Al-Haj Si Bashir al-Ayari, a
Tripolitanian merchant from the Ras ad-Darb district of
Tunis city. He d. at his apartment in the Rue
Fénelon, Tunis, 30th September 1962 (bur.
Tomb of King Muhammad al-Amin, Sidi 'Abdu'l Aziz, La
Marsa), having had issue, three sons and nine daughters: Copyright©Christopher
Buyers
[1962 - 1964/9]
Lieutenant-General H.R.H. Crown Prince (Sidi)
Husain [Hassine] Bey, Head of the Royal House of
Tunisia. b. at Sidi-Bou-Saïd, 22nd
April 1893, third son of H.H. Muhammad al-Nasir Pasha,
Bey and Possessor of the Kingdom of Tunis, GCMG, by his
second wife, Lalla Husn ul-Ujud, educ.
Prytanée militarie de La Flèche. Invested as Heir
Apparent with the title of Bey al-Mahalla
and the style of His Highness, 1st
October 1955. Became Crown Prince with the style
of His Royal Highness when Tunisia achieved
independence, 20th March 1956. Succeeded as
Head of the Royal House of Tunisia, and of the Nishan
ad-Dam, Nishan al-Ahad al-Aman,
and the Nishan al-Iftikhar, on the death of
H.M. Muhammad al-Amin, 30th September 1962.
Lieut-Gen. Beylical Army 1/10/1955. Sovereign and Grand
Master of the Nishan al-Ahad al-Aman,
Nishan ad-Dam, and Nishan al-Iftikhar.
Rcvd: the Nishan al-Ahad al-Aman
al-Murassa (1.10.1955), Nishan ad-Dam,
and GC of the Nishan al-Iftikhar, GO of the
Order of the Legion of Honour of France, the Sharifan
Order of Alawai of Morocco, etc. m. at Dar al-Taj
Palace, La Marsa, 22nd July 1914, as his only
wife, Lalla Aisha [Aïcha], daughter of Si
Ahmad bin 'Abdu'llah Maria, an Italian convert to Islam,
by his wife, Princess Traki, eldest daughter of Sidi
Husain Bey, Bey al-Taula. He d. at
Sidi-Bou-Saïd, 9th April 1969 (or October
1964)*, having had issue, four sons and one daughter:Copyright©Christopher Buyers, August 2000 - July 2008