La crisi tra il Regno di Sardegna e la Reggenza di Tunisi (1843-44)

Between the autumn of 1843 and the spring of 1844, relations between the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Regency of Tunis experienced a sharp deterioration. Driven by commercial disputes and exacerbated by the intransigence of both parties, this crisis had several repercussions on Tunisian politics and the relations of Tunisia with great powers, such as France and Great Britain, who were engaged in a fierce contest for influence over the country. After a paragraph dedicated to the relations between Sardinia and Tunisia from 1816, the article will present the events of the crisis – its causes, development and final mediation – through analysis of documents preserved in Italian, French, British and Tunisian archives. These events also highlight the influence gained by Ligurian merchants in Tunis and their ability to affect the actions of the consulate and of the Sardinian government.