Enfidha
Encyclopedia
Enfidha is a town in northeastern Tunisia
with a population of approximately 10,000. It is visited by tourists on their way to Takrouna. Enfidha is located at around 36°8′7"N 10°22′51"E. It lies on the railway between Tunis
and Sousse
, approximately 45 km northeast of Sousse and a few kilometers inland from the Gulf of Hammamet
. The nearby Enfidha – Hammamet International Airport opened in 2009, serving charter flights from several European countries.
The Enfida estate was granted by the bey Mahommed-es-Sadok to his chief minister, Khaireddin Pasha, in return for the confirmation by the sultan
of Turkey
in 1871, through the instrumentality of the pasha
, of the right of succession to the beylik
of members of Es-Sadok's family.
When Khaireddin left Tunisia for Constantinople
some years later, he sold the estate to a Marseille
company which named it Enfidaville. The attempt by the Tunisian authorities to block the sale of the estate to a French buyer is regarded as a contributory factor in the decision of the French government to bring Tunisia under colonial rule. The estate was later sold on to the Société Franco-africaine. Enfidaville became the chief settlement on the Enfida estate, a property of over 300,000 acres (1,200 km²) in the Sahel
district of Tunisia, forming a rectangle between the towns of Hammamet
, Sousse
(Susa), Kairawan and Zaghwan. On this estate, devoted to the cultivation of cereals, olives, vines and to pasturage, were colonies of Europeans and natives. At Enfidaville, where was, as its native name indicates, a palace of the bey
s of Tunis, came a large horse-breeding establishment and a much-frequented weekly market.
About 8 km north of Enfidaville is Henshir Fraga, the ancient Uppenna, where are ruins of a large fortress and of a church in which were found mosaic
s with epitaph
s of various bishop
s and martyr
s. Uppenna has been reopened as Roman Catholic episcopal see since 1967, although mainly as a titular bishopric.
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
with a population of approximately 10,000. It is visited by tourists on their way to Takrouna. Enfidha is located at around 36°8′7"N 10°22′51"E. It lies on the railway between Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
and Sousse
Sousse
Sousse is a city in Tunisia. Located 140 km south of the capital Tunis, the city has 173,047 inhabitants . Sousse is in the central-east of the country, on the Gulf of Hammamet, which is a part of the Mediterranean Sea. The name may be of Berber origin: similar names are found in Libya and in...
, approximately 45 km northeast of Sousse and a few kilometers inland from the Gulf of Hammamet
Gulf of Hammamet
Gulf of Hammamet is a large gulf in northeastern Tunisia. It is located at around , south of the Cap Bon peninsula. To the other side of the Cape Bon Peninsula is the Gulf of Tunis. Hammamet, popular vacation resort city lies at the northwestern edge of the gulf....
. The nearby Enfidha – Hammamet International Airport opened in 2009, serving charter flights from several European countries.
The Enfida estate was granted by the bey Mahommed-es-Sadok to his chief minister, Khaireddin Pasha, in return for the confirmation by the sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
in 1871, through the instrumentality of the pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
, of the right of succession to the beylik
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
of members of Es-Sadok's family.
When Khaireddin left Tunisia for Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
some years later, he sold the estate to a Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
company which named it Enfidaville. The attempt by the Tunisian authorities to block the sale of the estate to a French buyer is regarded as a contributory factor in the decision of the French government to bring Tunisia under colonial rule. The estate was later sold on to the Société Franco-africaine. Enfidaville became the chief settlement on the Enfida estate, a property of over 300,000 acres (1,200 km²) in the Sahel
Sahel
The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition between the Sahara desert in the North and the Sudanian Savannas in the south.It stretches across the North African continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea....
district of Tunisia, forming a rectangle between the towns of Hammamet
Hammamet
Hammamet is a town in Tunisia. Due to its beaches it is a popular destination for swimming and water sports. It was the first tourist destination in Tunisia...
, Sousse
Sousse
Sousse is a city in Tunisia. Located 140 km south of the capital Tunis, the city has 173,047 inhabitants . Sousse is in the central-east of the country, on the Gulf of Hammamet, which is a part of the Mediterranean Sea. The name may be of Berber origin: similar names are found in Libya and in...
(Susa), Kairawan and Zaghwan. On this estate, devoted to the cultivation of cereals, olives, vines and to pasturage, were colonies of Europeans and natives. At Enfidaville, where was, as its native name indicates, a palace of the bey
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
s of Tunis, came a large horse-breeding establishment and a much-frequented weekly market.
About 8 km north of Enfidaville is Henshir Fraga, the ancient Uppenna, where are ruins of a large fortress and of a church in which were found mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
s with epitaph
Epitaph
An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial...
s of various bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s and martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
s. Uppenna has been reopened as Roman Catholic episcopal see since 1967, although mainly as a titular bishopric.