The Algerian power was growing in the Mediterranean Sea that was worrying
for the Europeans who have interests in the Mediterranean Sea so they decided
to face the Algerian power that was growing increasingly.
Destruction of Algeria was a target for all European kingdoms so they
decided in the conference of Vienna in 1818, the Europeans were competing with
each other in order who is the first to invade Algeria because of its
strategical location so the Kingdom of France was the first to invade Algeria
after when Algeria lost almost all of its navy during the Battle of Navarino in
1827.
Above Image (Battle of Navarino)
A new Algerian state was formed at the beginning of 16 century and during
the 17 century Algeria separated from Ottoman Empire and established
an independent state which was called Regency of Algiers, the governors were appointed
through elections and Algeria has been able to build a powerful navy that reached
its influence to the Mediterranean Sea and imposed taxes for European kingdoms
in order to let their ships go through the Mediterranean Sea, this made the European
kingdoms seek to setup agreements and treaties with Algeria.
The Algerian French relations begin in 1561 when Algeria decided to
support the French Revolution in 1789 when the European Kingdoms agreed to
besiege the French revolutionist government which was looking for financial
support but they only find Algeria as their only ally so they asked for help.
The governor of Algeria responded to the French request where he offered them
loans (Ex-dividend) and also he decided to supply France with wheat so French
people don’t die from starvation because their government was besieged from
their neighbouring European kingdoms. But France has repudiated against Algeria
and decided not to repay its debt with Algeria which resulted in conflict
between the two countries.
Above Image (French Revolution)
France wanted to capture the fort of El Kala which France wanted to
make it a base to control the Mediterranean Sea, all French rulers have dreamed
to invade Algeria starting from King Louis XIV to Napoleon Bonaparte who insisted
to occupy Algeria in order to eliminate the British presence in the Mediterranean
Sea.
King Charles X was the ruler of Kingdom of France in 1824, he felt that
there is an opportunity to launch a military campaign against Algeria so he can
be able to eliminate his political opponents, absorb anger of French people,
block the British supplies and to revenge for the fan affair which was a
political insult to France.
France felt like it was the protector of Catholicism and to achieve
victory over Algeria it was like achieving victory over Islam, this what the
French commander Clermont de Tonnerre has said when imposing siege on Algiers “I
wanted to Divine Providence to be raised to our Majesty (King) firmly is the
person who is going to end the worst enemies of Christianity, perhaps luck will
help us to spread civil life between the indigenous people and to convert them
to Christianity.”
France was seeking hardly to make Algeria a French colony because of
its wealth of raw materials which France needed to boost its economy which was in
crisis. France had by providing a large amount of money by exporting all
products from Algeria to European markets.
Above Image (Fan Affair)
On 16 June 1827 France declared war on Algeria because the ruler of
Algeria Hussein Dey refused to apologize to Kingdom of France for the fan
affair especially when Algeria lost most of its navy.
Above Image (Hussien Dey)
The French forces under General Louis de Bourmont during the invasion
of Algeria 1830:
36,000 Infantry
4,000 Cavalry
83 Canons
503 Ships
French army were made up of experienced soldiers who majority of them
participated in Napoleonic wars, the military campaign was launched from the
port of Toulon then through Spanish Island of Palma until they reached the
seashore of Sidi Ferruch in 14th of June, Hussein Dey was aware of
the French movement through his spies. The Algerian preparation to face the French military campaign was poor because
most of the Algerian soldiers are volunteers which they did have any military experience
unlike the French.
Above Image (General Louis de Bourmont)
The Algerian forces under Commander Ibrahim Agha during the invasion of
Algeria 1830:
1,000 Janissaries
5,000 Andalusian soldiers
3,000 Arabian volunteers
2,000 Amazigh volunteers
In 14 June 1830 the French reached the beaches of Sidi Ferruch, the
Algerian forces was waiting in order to prevent them from landing to the beach
so Ibrahim Agha the commander of the Algerian forces and the son of Hussein Dey
who was a person with no military experience unlike the former commander Yahya
Agha, Ibrahim Agha with his poor decision making on military plans was behind
the defeat of the Algerian army in 18 June 1830. The plan was to wait for the French
troops to land on the ground and then attack them but Ahmed Bey who was the Bey
of Constantine offered commander Ibrahim Agha a better plan which was to attack
the French ships from the beach and prevent the French troops from landing to
the beach but Ibrahim Agha did not accept the plan of Ahmed but he insisted
that his plan will work.
Above Image (Battle of Staoueli)
19 June 1830 the French forces defeated the Algerian army in the Battle
of Staoueli, which they made their way to the city of Algiers which was defenceless.
General Louis de Bourmont captured Algiers without any resistance in 5 July
1830 and made Hussein Dey sign a Treaty of surrender which allowed the French
to occupy the city where the flag of France was raised over the city towers,
the French did not respect the treaty between them and Hussein Dey so they
stole the treasure of Casabah which worth 52 million Franc gold, expelling the
Algerian army and seizing their property and finally transforming Masjids to Churches.
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