Siege of Tripoli (1705)

Siege of Tripoli (1705)
Part of the Revolutions of Tunis
Date 19 January 1705 Location Tripoli, Libya Result Tripolitanian victory
Belligerents
Ottoman Tripolitania	Ottoman Tunisia
Commanders and leaders
Bosnak Ismail Pasha	Ibrahim al-Sharif

The siege of Tripoli was initiated by the Tunisian bey, Ibrahim al-Sharif, who attempted to "wreak his wrath" on the population of Tripoli. The siege proved unsuccessful as Tunisian troops withdrew from Tripoli.[1][2]

Prelude

The conflict was triggered by the capture of a ship that was transporting gifts from the governor of Egypt to the Bey of Tunisia by Tripolitania pirates.[3] This incident deeply offended Ibrahim Al-Sharif, a deeply unpopular bey who had risen to power after assassinating Murad III Bey and his family in 1702.[1][4]

Siege

In response to this perceived slight, Ibrahim Al-Sharif directed his forces towards Tripoli, specifically targeting Khalil Bey, the son-in-law of the ruler of Tripolitania. The siege was characterized by Ibrahim's intention to unleash his fury upon the entire population of Tripoli, causing fear to spread among the inhabitants, including the French, whose consul fled the city in the face of the advancing threat.[5]

Conclusion

In an effort to defend the city, the Jewish community actively participated in fortifying Tripoli's defenses, while Ibrahim's soldiers simultaneously pillaged several nearby villages. Despite the initial aggression, the defenders managed to repel Ibrahim's troops, leading to his eventual retreat and the lifting of the siege.[5][6]

Notes

1. Haim Zeev 1994, p. 151.
2. Meghnagi 2018, p. 215.
3. Gribetz 1993, p. 216.
4. Abadi 2022, p. 339.
5. Haim Zeev 1994, p. 152.
6. Tayar 2000, p. 57.

References

• Abadi, Jacob (2022). Tunisia Since the Arab Conquest: The Saga of a Westernized Muslim State (Middle East Studies) (Kindle ed.). Ithaca Press.
• Gribetz, Judah (1993). The Timetables of Jewish History, A Chronology of the Most Important People and Events in Jewish History. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780671640071.
• Haim Zeev, Hirschberg (1994). A History of the Jews in North Africa: From the Ottoman conquests to the present time. Brill. ISBN 9004062955.
• Meghnagi, David (June 25, 2018). Jewish Libya, Memory and Identity in Text and Image. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 9780815654278.
• Tayar, Aline P'nina (2000). How Shall We Sing? A Mediterranean Journey Through a Jewish Family. Picador. p. 57. ISBN 9780330362115.