Husain Bey, Crown Prince of Tunisia
Husain Bey Gouta, Crown Prince of Tunisia (22 April 1893 - 9 April 1969) was the titular head of the Husainid Dynasty. He was the third son of Muhammad V an-Nasir, Bey of Tunis, by his second wife, Lalla Husn ul-Ujud, from 1906 until 1922.
Biography
Husain Bey Gouta was born in Sidi Bou Said. He was educated at the Prytanée National Militaire school situated in the city of La Flèche in western France. At the time of attending the Prytanée National Militaire school, Tunisia was a part of the French Empire.
On 1 October 1955, Husain Bey Gouta was invested as the heir apparent of the Beylik of Tunis, receiving the title Bey al-Mahalla, meaning Bey of the Camp. This is a title used for the most senior member of the Beylical family after the reigning Bey. In addition to becoming Bey al-Mahalla, he also became a Lieutenant General in the Beylical Army. Following Tunisia's independence from France on 20 March 1956, Husain Bey received the new title of Crown Prince following its independence as a Kingdom.
Husain Bey Gouta's chances of ascending the throne came to an end on 25 July 1957, when the prime minister, Habib Bourguiba, usurped power and abolished the monarchy. Following the death of King Muhammad VIII al-Amin on 30 September 1962, Husain Bey Gouta succeeded as head of the Husainid Dynasty as Head of the Royal House of Tunisia, and of the Nishan ad-Dam, Nishan al-Ahad al-Aman, and the Nishan al-Iftikhar and remained so until his death, when he was succeeded by Prince Mustafa Bey Gouta. He was Sovereign and Grand Master of the Nishan al-Ahad al-Aman, Nishan ad-Dam, and Nishan al-Iftikhar.
He was decorated with the Nishan al-Ahad al-Aman al-Murassa on 1 October 1955, Nishan ad-Dam, Grand Cross of the Nishan al-Iftikhar, Grand Officer of the Order of the Legion of Honour of France, the Sharifan Order of Alawai of Morocco, etc.
He died in Sidi Bou Said. Some sources stated he died in October 1964.
Marriage and children
Husain Bey Gouta was married on 22 July 1914, at the Dar al-Taj Palace in La Marsa as his only wife to Lalla Aisha Maria, the daughter of Si Ahmad bin 'Abdu'llah Maria, an Italian convert to Islam, and his wife Princess Traki, eldest daughter of Sidi Husain Bey, Bey al-Taula. Husain and Aisha had five children:
- Prince 'Ali Bey Gouta (born 1915)
- Princess Husn al-Aujud Gouta (born 1918)
- Prince Murad Bey Gouta (born 1919)
- Prince Muhammad al-Afif Bey Gouta (1926-1985)
- Prince Muhammad Bey Gouta (1934-1934)