The Enfida estate was granted by the beyMahommed-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.[1]
French Colonial Era
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, Kairouan and Zaghouan. On this estate, devoted to the cultivation of cereals, olives, vines and to pasturage, were colonies of Europeans and natives. At Enfidaville, which was, as its native name indicates, a palace of the beys of Tunis, came a large horse-breeding establishment and a much-frequented weekly market.[1]
In April 1943 during Operation Strike, the American Corps II cornered the Axis powers force against the Tunisian Coast. The British Eighth Army attacked Enfidaville on 19 April captured the village, but met strong resistance.
Attacks further north saw the fall of Tunis on 7 May, to the British First Army and Bizerta on 8 May to the Americans.
Resuming the assault on Enfidaville on 11–13 May, the city saw the defeat of Axis forces but with significant casualties. 1,551 Allied casualties were buried in the Enfadaville War Cemetery,[2] including Wing Commander Ian Gleed DSO DFC, an English RAF pilot and flying ace, who was shot down over Cap Bon.[3]
