The Greek community in Tunis between 1805 and 1881. Aspects of its demographics and its role in the local economic and political context

ABSTRACT

Political and economic changes in the eastern Mediterranean encouraged Greek immigration to Tunis in the early nineteenth century. Although the number of Greeks was limited, they managed to obtain significant economic power. They became partners with the Bey and soon integrated into the local political elite. The article analyses the main entrepreneurial activities of the Greeks who settled in Tunis and their role in the local economy. It discusses the political status of the Greeks who settled in Tunis during the nineteenth century and their interrelationships with the political elite. It is also important to examine the case of those Greeks who, although they arrived in Tunis as enslaved during the first quarter of the nineteenth century, assumed important offices in the local government, supporting the interests of the Greek community.

KEYWORDS:

• Tunis
• migration
• Greek diaspora
• ottoman studies
• North Africa

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Archive of the Greek Embassy in Tunis ‘Greek citizens’ registry of 1879.’

2 Archive of the Greek community in Tunis, letters of several Greek merchants to the Greek community of Tunis dated between 1870 and 1890.

3 Archive of the Holy Archdiocese of Carthage, ‘Revenues and expenses between 19/11/1864 and 1890’.