.
A year later, Moulay Hassan arrived in Bizerte submit, and went himself to supervise the dismantling of its walls (end 1535).
In 1536, the situation was far to improve, if we judge by the instances of Moulay Hassan with the emperor, in order to obtain regular troops that would allow it to hunt the few Turks remained in the country and their supporters reduce to subjection the Chabbïa who ruled Kairouan and finally submit the cities dissenting.
If these reinforcements could be given him, the king of Tunis said that his position had become untenable and demanded to be taken to Spain. Mendoza (Captain of the fort of La Goulette), in turn, confided that he prayed for ships and 1,500 men with whom he undertook to take control of Mahdia.
He confirmed that the position of Moulay Hassan was impossible to Tunis.
In 1537, the city of Kairouan sprang a fanatic named Sidi Arfa leader of the Brotherhood "Chabbia", which claims to sovereignty were soon supported by a large party. His goal was not only to combat "the traitor" but to dethrone him, so to end the dynasty Hafsid but also to drive the English and Turkish-Ottoman.
Moulay Hassan appealed again to the support of Charles V and the Viceroy of Sicily, at the behest of the emperor sent men and cons Soussa vessels, to reduce to obedience. With this reinforcement, the king Hafsid marched by land to assist the landing. But this double operation ended with a pitiful failure.
Two years after that unfortunate expedition, and in 1539, Andrea Doria revenged himself with brilliance. Kélibia, Sousse, Monastir and Sfax, even, were relocated under the authority of Moulay Hassan and governors Hafsid there were placed. Monastir even received a English regiment in garrison.
Kairouan remained in a state of revolt and Moulay Hassan was eager to avenge the humiliations experienced by him in its walls. Around 1540, he took the English garrison of Monastir, and having his assistant contingent took up a position at Batn el Karn, near the holy city of Okba. There was hardly settled people of Kairouan, who had already worked its members, effected a great outlet during the night and surprised his camp. Abandoned by the Arabs, Moulay Hassan was forced to open a passage to the tip of his sword, and thanks to the courage of the English soldiers, managed to return to Tunis, leaving all his baggage in the hands of rebels.
Monastir, Sousse, Sfax and Kelibia threw themselves back into revolt and accepted the protection privateer Dargouth Pasha (Pasha Dragut) which was headquarters El Mahdia and whose boldness and success wore his fame to the walls of Tunis and made increasingly illusory authority of Moulay Hassan.
The following year, Doria reappeared before Monastir and reduced the square. Soussa drove the Turks and replaced it under the authority of Moulay Hassan.
In 1542, Moulay Hassan, acknowledging all that his situation was perilous and precarious, decided to go in person to ask, once again, the help of Christians. He decided to move to Italy, for, from there, bring his grievances to the emperor, then at Augsburg, but as he did not trust none of his coreligionists, he laid, starting his treasure and jewels in La Goulette and confided to the English governor, Don Francisco Tavares, moreover, he ordered a ship goods of all kinds were to sell it in Italy.
The party was serious because he was leaving his dominions, in a time when his authority was threatened by factions. However, he did not, and left in the hands of his son Moulay Hamed, business management.
But no sooner had he arrived in Europe, where, without losing time, he had already sent Arms and ammunition, he received the Commander Goulette most alarming news: his son Soltan Hamid, assisted by Sheikh Bab el-Jazeera, Omar el-Djebali, seized the authority and has been proclaimed king in his place and that his company had succeeded, despite strong opposition from the garrison of La Goulette, commanded by Don Francisco de Tobar.
Immediately Moulay Hassan urged his enlistment and was soon back at the head of about 2,000 adventurers recruited in the south of Italy, and commanded by the Neapolitan Lofredo. But his son was prepared for the resistance, thanks to the excitement of fanaticism irritated complaisance of Sultan for Christians and subordination that he had accepted he had collected a considerable force which had taken up positions in front of the city between Kherbet Kelekh and Saniat el- el-Annabi.
Immediately Moulay Hassan returned to Tunis to play power to his son. Upon arrival, the governor of La Goulette, enjoying better than him all the difficulties of the company, advised him not to tempt fortune with undisciplined troops and the loyalty of what he ought not count. This advice, dictated by prudence, was not listened.
Moulay Hassan walked bravely against the enemy, but soldiers did not hold and soon found themselves in disarray: 500 of them were collected by the Spaniards of La Goulette and all others, including their leader Lofredo, perished by the sword of Muslims. As
Moulay Hassan, he fell while fleeing in a quagmire from which it was removed with difficulty. Dressed in a bathrobe that concealed the mud which covered him, he was brought before his son.
After overwhelmed with reproaches, Hamed Soltan consulted his friends about the treatment that was to be inflicted and the result was to put forced to choose between life imprisonment or loss of vision. The unhappy prince opted for the latter party had his eyes gouged out by the order of his son, who then gave him some freedom, knowing so discredited that it was more dangerous. Later, the king managed to escape and sought refuge among the Christians. He then accused Don F. Tavares for having taken all his wealth, as the result of a curious statement preserved in the archives of Simancas.
the news of these events, 1500 men from the army of Naples and conducted by Don Alonzo de Bivas, arrived in La Goulette, to help the governor of that place to overthrow the usurper. They were not long, indeed, the hunt of the throne and replace him with his uncle, Moulay Abd el-Malek, a man worthy of all respect. Unfortunately, this prince died thirty-six days after his elevation and we had to make a new choice. They gave him succeeded by his son, Moulay Mohamed.
Moulay Hamed did not remain inactive during these troubled times. The civil war that tore the country beautifully served his ambition, and he took advantage to form a powerful party, with which he was fortunate enough to capture with the help of Monastir Dargouth. Emboldened by this success, he immediately marched to Tunis, from where the young Moulay Mohamed, surprised by the brisk, fled to La Goulette, seek refuge with the Spaniards, leaving the power his cousin.
Dragut (Darghout) the privateer, took advantage, in turn, these revolutions to return to his obedience the cities that Doria had removed in 1540. It was Mahdia Africa or the center of its operations, and extended his authority over the island of Djerba.
continued ...
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