Youssef Saheb Ettabaâ

Youssef Saheb Ettabaa (; born 1765, died 23 January 1815), was a Tunisian politician and a mameluk of Moldavian origin. He became a prime minister of the Beylik of Tunis.

Early career He was enslaved as a boy and manumitted in Istanbul in 1777 when he was thirteen by Baccar Djellouli, a rich Sfaxi shipowner, trader and qaid. He lived for several years in Sfax with the Djellouli family, while getting used to local customs and the Tunisian language. In 1781 he was offered to the Bey's heir Hammouda Pasha, then aged 18. Minister :fr:Hammouda Ben Abdelaziz was responsible for his instruction.

Rise to power Having become an influential personality and being very able, Youssef obtained the post of Keeper of the Seals from Hammouda Pasha on his accession, that is to say he was appointed saheb ettabaâ, from 1782, replacing Moustapha Khodja, who remained the bey's main minister. He soon established himself as the main director of Beylical politics as well as the regency's most important merchant.

Between 1783 and 1815, a large part of the Tunisian economy was in the hands of Saheb Ettabaâ. He took charge of tax receipts, and placed loyal qaids throughout the country. On the diplomatic front, Youssef Saheb Ettabaâ brought Hammouda Bey closer to the Ottoman dynasty. In 1795 he took control of all commercial imports and exports of all commercial activity; he also supervised the artisanal trade, in particular the manufacture of chechias, and intensified the arms race in the Mediterranean Sea during the years of Franco–British rivalry.

Legacy Saheb Ettabaâ was responsible for the building of the Saheb Ettabaâ Palace, the Madrasa Saheb Ettabaâ and the Saheb Ettabaâ Mosque in Halfaouine.

He was responsible for the early career promotion of Mustapha Saheb Ettabaa, with whom he was unrelated.