History Sfax

looking across place de la république towards sfax city hall (photographed in 2005).



the french ironclad colbert bombarded sfax in 1881

during roman empire sfax town called taparura.

by end of 10th century, sfax, had become independent city-state. city conquered roger ii of sicily in 1148 , occupied until liberated in 1156 local forces, , briefly occupied european forces again; time spanish, in 16th century, before falling ottoman hands time. sfax became integral base of barbary piracy, prompting unsuccessful invasion venice in 1785.

when bey of tunis signed bardo treaty, in 1881, making tunisia protectorate, insurrection broke out in sfax. 6 ironclads dispatched toulon (colbert, friedland, marengo, trident, revanche, surveillante) join french navy ships in tunisian waters. in sfax, 3 ironclads division of levant present (alma, reine blanche, la galissonnière), 4 cannon boats. sfax bombarded, , on 16 july city taken french after hard fighting, 7 dead , 32 wounded french.

during world war ii, axis powers used city major base until british forces took on 10 april 1943. after world war ii, tunisia returned france, gained independence in 1956.