Bizerte

Bizerte or Bizerta (; transliterated: Banzart; Italian: Biserta) is the caipital city o Bizerte Govrenorate in Tunisie. It haes a population o 114,371 (2004 census).

History

Bizerte is kent as the auldest an maist European city in Tunisie. It wis foondit aroond 1000 BC bi Phoeniciens frae Tyre. It is forby kent as the last toun tae remain unner French control aifter the rest o the kintra won its unthirldom frae Fraunce.

Initially a sma Phoenician harbour, the city cam unner the influence o Carthage efter the defeat o Agathocles durin the Punic Wars. The city wis syne occupied bi the Romans, unner the name o Hippo Diarrhytus or Hippo Zarrytus.

Bizerte wis successively conquert bi the Arabs in 647 (wha gied the city its name the nou), bi the troops o Charles V o the Holy Roman Empire in 1535, an then bi the Turks in 1574. The city syne becam a corsair harbour an struggled agin the French an the Venetians.

Wi the occupation o Tunisie in 1880, Fraunce gaint control of Bizerte an biggit a muckle naval harbour in the city. 

In 1924, efter the French govrenment officially recognised the Soviet Union (USSR), the wastren military fleet o White Roushie that haed been kept in the port o Bizerte wis returnt tae the Soviet govrenment. The ships niver shiftit frae the port an war selt thare as scrap metal.

Durin the Seicont Warld War, Bizerte wis occupied bi the German Airmy an wis retaken bi American troops on 7 Mey 1943. Durin the fechtin atween the Allied forces an the German Airmy, mony o the city's inhabitants flittit tae the kintraside or Tunis. The city haed suffet a muckle amoont o damage durin the battle.

Owin tae Bizerte's strategic location on the Mediterranean, Fraunce wantit tae retain its naval base thare. Fraunce accordinly kept control o the city e'en efter Tunisie gaint its unthirldom in 1956. The city wis blockadit in 1961 bi the Tunisian Airmy an Navy, an attackit aifterwart. Fraunce respondit bi drappin 7,000 paratroopers an sendin in three warships. The three day battle resultit in 700 deid an 1,200 woondit amangst the Tunisians (that includit civilian volunteers) at the cost o 24 deid an 100 woondit amangst the French forces. 

The French military finally abandoned Bizerte on 15 October 1963.

Sister cities
 Tangier, Morocco
 Port Said, Egyp
 Annaba, Algerie
 Kalamata, Greece
 Palermo, Italy

References

Category:Populatit places in Tunisie
Category:Communes o Tunisie