Yusuf Dey

[1] Son of Mustapha El Turki, an Ottoman Turkish soldier stationed at Tripoli, he took up a post in the militia of Tunis.

Before his death, Uthman managed to convince the divan of Tunis to name Yusuf as his successor.

In addition, Yusuf Dey often conferred with his friend and principal lieutenant, Ali Thabet.

According to contemporary chronicles, the Turkish militia of Tunis was the strongest army in the region; it contained 9,000 elite troops (the janissaries), further regiments of irregular cavalry raised from the tribes of the hinterland, and more than 200 galleys commanded by marines and formidable corsairs.

In spite of this, the elderly Yusuf Dey managed to secure the assignment of the island of Djerba to the regency of Tunis, through diplomatic efforts.