AsBey al-Mahalla (Heir Apparent) he had been awarded the rank of divisional general in the Ottoman army in August 1840, and was raised to the rank of marshal on 7 August 1855, shortly after he succeeded his cousin Ahmad Bey on 30 May 1855. He retained his predecessor's key minister Mustapha KhaznadarasGrand vizier[5] and surrounded himself with competent ministers such as Kheireddine Pacha and Generals Hussain and Rustum as well as devoted counsellors including Mohamed Bayram IV, Mahmoud Kabadou and Ismaïl Caïd Essebsi.
The proclamation of the Fundamental Pact in the Bardo Palace on 10 September 1857.
After his accession he proceeded with reforms, including, on 10 September 1857, the Fundamental Pact which recognised religious freedom and equality before the law for all inhabitants of the country, regardless of their religion.[6] In a decree of 30 August 1858, he established the first modern municipal government for the city of Tunis.[7]
He considerably extended and embellished the Dar al-Taj Palace in La Marsa, stripping the old Mohamedia Palace favoured by his predecessor of building materials to do so.[8]
^Ibn Abi Dhiaf, Présent des hommes de notre temps. Chroniques des rois de Tunis et du pacte fondamental, vol. IV, éd. Maison tunisienne de l'édition, Tunis, 1990, p. 207
^Jacques Revault, Palais et résidences d'été de la région de Tunis (XVIe-XIXe siècles), éd. Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Paris, 1974, p. 74
