Establishment of the Emirate

      Emirate of Abdelkader

             1832 – 1847

Capital: Mascara

Languages: Arabic & Berber

Religion: Islam

Government: Shura Council

Currency: Mohammadia, Nisfia & Douro 

Moto:  "victory from Allah and conquest is soon”.

The Emir took advantage from his previous experience which he gained from his journey to the Arab world especially during his stay in Egypt, he was interested in the administration of Mohammed Ali Pasha.

Creation of Shura Council

The Emir was keen to bring in scholars and jurists in order to create a powerful Shura Council which was like a Parliament at that time, the Shura Council was consisted of 12 senior scholars and jurists they are:

Ahmed Ben Al-Tahami

Abdelkader Ben Rakosh

Abdullah Saqqat Al-Mashrafi

Taher Al-Mahfoudi

Mohammed Al-Mahfoudi

Ahmed Ben Taher Al-Mashrafi

Mohammed Ben Mokhtar Al-Wargey

Maki Al-Makhroubi

Mokhtar Ben Maki

Hajj Abdelkader Ben Rakosh

Ibrahim Ben Qaddi

Ahmad Ben Hashemi Al-Marhi

The Emir has assigned the presidency of the Shura Council to the Supreme Judge Ahmad Ben Hashemi Al-Marhi where he had book so will record all issues then address them to the Council then the decisions are made by the agreement  of all members of the council.

Ministers of the Emirate 

Minister of Internal Affairs: Mohammed Ben Sayed El Arabi

Minister of War: Mohammed Ben Jelani

Minister of Economy (Public Sector): El Haj Ben Abi Abdellah

Minister of Economy (Private Sector): Abou Sayed Mohammed Ben Fakha

Minister of Religious Affair: El Haj Taher Abou Zayed

Minister of Tax and Zakat: Abou Mohammed Jelani Al Alawi

Like every state it must have a unique flag and emblem which differs them from others Emir Abdelkader choose the flag to be made of flax and silk, the top and bottom of the flag are in green and white in the middle also it has a symbol of a hand with writings in gold saying” Nasir Al-Din Emir Adbelkader Ben Muhieddine and victory from Allah and conquest is soon”.

Image Above (Flag of the emirate)

The emblem of the state is in a hexagram shape, there are writings in the sides of the shape which are: Allah, Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him), Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman and Ali. In the middle of the star it says Nasir Al-Din Emir Adbelkader Ben Muhieddine.

Image Above (Emblem of the emirate)

Provinces of the Emirate

After the establishment of the emirate, Emir Abdelkader has divided his emirate into administrative provinces to facilitate the management and ease the burden on the central government.

Mascara Province

Capital: Mascara

Governor: Ahmed Ben Al-Tahami

Tlemcen Province

Capital: Tlemcen

Governor: Mohammed Bouhamedi

Miliana Province

Capital: Miliana

Governor: Muhieddine Ben Alal Al-Qaleyi

 Titteri Province  

Capital: Médéa

Governor: Mohammed Barkani

Medjana Province

Capital: Setif

Governor: Mohammed Ben Abdelsalam Al-Maqdani

Ziban Province

Capital: Biskara

Governor: Ferhat Bern Saeed

Jibal Province

Capital: Bouira

Governor: Ahmed Ben Salem

Sahara Province

Capital: Laghouat

Governor: Gadour Ben Abdelbaqi

Each Province was divided into districts then it divides to a group of tribes, the head of a district is called Agha and the Sheikh was the head of the group of tribes.