Regency of Algiers | |
|---|---|
| 1516–1830 | |
  Flag of Algiers (1516–1830) | |
| Motto: دار الجهاد | |
| Coat of arms of Algiers (1516–1830)  | |
 Overall extent of the Regency of Algiers, late 17th to early 19th centuries[4] | |
| Status | Autonomous eyalet (Client state) of the Ottoman Empire[5][6] De facto independent since mid-17th century[7][8][9] |
| Capital | Algiers |
| Official languages | Ottoman Turkish and Arabic (since 1671)[10] |
| Common languages | Algerian Arabic Berber Sabir (used in trade) |
| Religion | Official, and majority: Sunni Islam (Maliki and Hanafi) Minorities: Ibadi Islam Shia Islam Judaism Christianity |
| Demonym(s) | Algerian or Algerine (obs.) |
| Government | Stratocratic Regency 1516–1519: Sultanate 1519–1659: Pashalik 1659[11] (de facto in 1626)[12]–1830: Military republic |
| Rulers | |
• 1516–1518 | Aruj Barbarossa |
• 1710–1718 | Baba Ali Chaouch |
• 1766-1791 | Baba Mohammed ben-Osman |
• 1818–1830 | Hussein Dey |
| Historical era | Early modern period |
| 1509 | |
| 1516 | |
| 1521–1791 | |
| 1541 | |
| 1550–1795 | |
| 1580–1640 | |
| 1627 | |
| 1659 | |
| 1681–1688 | |
| 1699–1702 | |
| 1775–1785 | |
| 1785–1816 | |
| 1830 | |
| Population | |
• 1830 | 3,000,000–5,000,000 |
| Currency | Major coins: mahboub (sultani) budju aspre Minor coins: saïme pataque-chique |
| Today part of | Algeria |
The Regency of Algiers[a][b] was a largely independent early modern Ottoman tributary state on the Barbary Coast of North Africa between 1516 and 1830. Founded by the privateer brothers Aruj and Hayreddin Barbarossa, also known as Oruç and Khayr ad-Din, the Regency began as an infamous and formidable pirate base that plundered and waged maritime holy war on European Christian powers. Ottoman regents ruled as heads of a stratocracy; an autonomous military government controlled by the janissary corps, themed Garp ocakları lit. 'Western Garrison' in Ottoman terminology.
The Regency emerged in the 16th-century Ottoman–Habsburg wars as a unique corsair state that drew revenue and political power from its maritime strength. In the 17th century, when the wars between the Spanish Habsburgs and the Ottoman empire, Kingdom of France, Kingdom of England and Dutch Republic ended, Barbary corsairs started capturing merchant ships and their crews and goods from these states. When the Ottomans could not prevent these attacks, European powers negotiated directly with Algiers and also took military action against it alternatively. This emancipated Algiers diplomatically and increased its autonomy.
The Regency held significant naval power in the 16th and 17th century and well into the end of the Napoleonic wars, despite European naval superiority. Its notorious institutionalised privateering dealt substantial damage to European shipping, took captives for ransom, plundered booty, hijacked ships and eventually demanded regular tribute payments. In the rich and bustling city of Algiers, the Barbary slave trade reached an apex. After the janissary coup of 1659, the Regency became a sovereign military republic,[c] its rulers were thenceforth elected by the council known as the diwân, rather than appointed by the Ottoman sultan as before.
Despite wars over territory with Spain and the Maghrebi states in the 18th century, Mediterranean trade and diplomatic relations with European states expanded. Bureaucratisation efforts stabilized the Regency's government, allowing into office remarkable regents such as Mohammed ben-Osman, who maintained Algerian prestige thanks to his public and defensive works which increased revenues and fended off numerous attacks on Algiers. British tribute payments no longer insured U.S. shipping traffic in the Mediterranean after the American Revolution, and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars provided an opportunity for large outbreaks of Algerian privateering. Increased demands for tribute from Algiers caused the Barbary Wars at the beginning of the 19th century, when Algiers was decisively defeated for the first time. Internal central authority weakened in Algiers due to political intrigue, failed harvests and the decline of privateering. Violent tribal revolts followed, mainly led by maraboutic orders such as the Darqawis and Tijanis. In 1830, France took advantage of this domestic turmoil to invade. The resulting French conquest of Algeria led to colonial rule until 1962.
- ^ Agoston 2009, p. 33.
- ^ Merouche 2007, p. 140.
- ^ Panzac 2005, p. 22.
- ^ Sluglett 2014, p. 68.
- ^ Somel 2010, p. 16.
- ^ McDougall 2017, p. 37,45.
- ^ Naylor 2015, p. 121.
- ^ Ruedy 2005, p. 19.
- ^ Saidouni 2009, p. 195.
- ^ Al-Jilali 1994, p. 187.
- ^ McDougall 2017, p. 38.
- ^ Merouche 2007, p. 186.
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