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Events on Thursday 12 May 1881 1
1881Treaty of Bardo establishes French TunisiaFrance imposes a protectorate over TunisiaFollowing a French military incursion from Algeria, the Bey of Tunis was forced to sign the Treaty of Bardo, ceding control of Tunisian foreign policy and finances to France. The treaty made Tunisia a French protectorate in all but name. It marked a major step in French colonial expansion in North Africa.