Ahmed bin Tayeb bin Salem al-Debaisi or simply Ahmed bin Salem was an Algerian Sufi, commander, and warrior mostly known for commanding the Kabyle
Zwawa
Igawawen or Gawawa, mostly known as Zwawa (in Kabyle: Igawawen, in Arabic: زواوة, and in Latin: Jubaleni''Revue archéologique, Société française d'archéologie classique'' (in French), p. 28) were a group of Kabyle tribes inhabiting the ...
resistance in the
Emirate of Abdelkader
The Emirate of Mascara, Emirate of Abd al-Qadir, or the Resistance of Mascara, was founded by Abd al-Qadir al-Jazairi with the allegiance of the people of Algeria to resist the French conquest of Algeria with its first capital at Mascara the ...
.
Origins
Ahmed bin Salem was born between 1798, and 1807, in
Aïn Bessem. His father was called "Al-Tayeb", and was one of the descendants of the Algerian
Sufi,
Sidi Salem bin Makhlouf. He was part of the
Beni Jaad tribe, one of the seven tribe surrounding the
Dar-Es-Soltan of the
Deylik of Algiers. He was also known as Ahmed al-Debaisi.
Description
Ahmed bin Salem was average height (around 171 cm). He had a black beard and eyes, white skin, and he was noted to be religious, and wise. He proved his loyalty through many sacrifices, and was noted to be courageous, and skilled in horse riding.
Abdelkader's tours, and his appointment
Following the
Treaty of Tafna the Emirate of Abdelkader began expanding to the east through signing alliances, and gaining the loyalty of local tribes.
In late 1837,
Abdelkader toured
Kabylia
Kabylia ('' Kabyle: Tamurt n Leqbayel'' or ''Iqbayliyen'', meaning "Land of Kabyles", '','' meaning "Land of the Tribes") is a cultural, natural and historical region
Historical regions (or historical areas) are geographical regions which ...
, where the local tribes gave him a warm welcome. He warned the already cautious tribes about the French expansion into their homeland, and talked with many of the local chiefs, one of them being Ahmed bin Salem. Abdelkader recognized his virtue and intelligence, and asked him for support in the future.
The area of
Bouïra, was at the time still in the hands of the local tribes, such as the Beni Jaad, which resisted the French conquest. Initially serving the
Algerine army under
Ibrahim Agha, these tribes found themselves isolated from other Algerian resistances, such as the
Beylik of Constantine or the
Beylik of Titteri
The Beylik of Titteri, (in arabic : ''bâylik at-Tîtrî)'', was one of the three permanent Beyliks of the Regency of Algiers, the other two being the Western Beylik, and the Beylik of Constantine. It was established in 1546 and was ended during t ...
. In 1837, a few months before the treaty of tafna, France successfully defeated these local tribes in the
Thénia expedition. As such, the promises of Abdelkader to unify the Algerian tribes, and lead a successful war of liberation against the
kafir invaders sounded very much promising. Abdelkader gave a speech to the locals, and in the end, they all pledged allegiance to him. He appointed Ahmed to lead the local district.
The district's organization
The district was further organized into four Aghaliks, each led by an
Agha.
War against France
Mitidja Campaign
In 1839 the war between Algeria and France rebegun. Ahmed bin Salem, with other commanders, Mohammed Allel, and Muhammad bin Isa al-Barakani started a campaign against France, and the tribes loyal to France in the
Mitidja
Mitidja, (Arabic: , Berber: Mettijet ⵎⴻⵜⵙⵉⵛⵝ) is a plain stretching along the outskirts of Algiers in northern Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, ...
plains. The campaign was initially extremely successful, and caused several thousand hostile casualties. The Algerian forces were forced to retreat after a French victory at
Oued El Alleug
Ouled El Alleug is a town and Communes of Algeria, commune in Blida Province, Algeria. It is at 36.55528°N 2.79028°E. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 33,915. The population density is 383 persons per kilometer.
The height of ...
where the Algerian lost several hundred troops. The battle was
Tactically a French victory, since they forced the Algerian armies to retreat, but it was a
strategic victory for the Algerians since they slaughtered several thousand French troops and French-friendly tribes, and overall weakened the French war efforts around
Algiers.
Battle of Ammal
Following the retreat from Mitidja, Ahmed decided to fortify the mountains of
Khemis El-Khechna, and
Bani Omran to monitor French movements in the region, and launch raids against French troops and
settlers. The French in turn attacked a tribe near
Ammal
Ammal is a town and commune in Boumerdès Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 8,567.
Villages
The villages of the commune of ''Ammal'' are:
History
French conquest
* Expedition of the Col des Beni Aïcha ( ...
, and stole 1,000
cattle
Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult ma ...
, and 300
sheep
Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to domesticated ...
from them. Ahmed bin Salem in turn attacked several settlements inhabited by French settlers, and stole their cattle. After hearing about the French army's location, he ambushed general
Sylvain Charles Valée's troops, and nearly destroyed their rear before retreating, successfully utilizing
Hit-and-run tactics
Hit-and-run tactics are a tactical doctrine of using short surprise attacks, withdrawing before the enemy can respond in force, and constantly maneuvering to avoid full engagement with the enemy. The purpose is not to decisively defeat the en ...
.
Battle of Boudouaou
The French decided to build several roads towards Kabylia to ease troop movements towards the region. Reorganizing in
Thénia, he planned an attack against the French troops guarding the construction workers. The French forces relied on 2 units to guard these roads. In September 1840 Ahmed mobilized his troops and besieged the Qara Mustafa, a few kilometers from
Boudouaou. The French administration immediately sent
Nicolas Changarnier
Nicolas Anne Theodule Changarnier (26 April 1793 – 14 February 1877), French general, was born at Autun, Saône-et-Loire.
Educated at Saint-Cyr, he served for a short time in the bodyguard of Louis XVIII, and entered the line as a lieute ...
to lift the siege, and hopefully kill Ahmed bin Salem. Nicolas rallied his troops near
El Harrach
El Harrach (Berber languages, Berber: ⵍⵃⴻⵔⵔⴰⵛ , formerly ''Maison-Carrée'') is a suburb of the Algerian capital Algiers.
The town is home to USM El Harrach football club and the Higher National Veterinary School is located in the ...
on September 18 at seven in the evening and set off one and a half hours later to
Oued El Hamiz in complete secrecy. The French army arrived at Boudouaou on September 19, and surprised the Algerians, who retreated immediately in disorder. He chased them, and killed several Algerian tribesmen, and seized 200 rifles, albeit he failed to kill Ahmed himself.
Battle of Beni Mered
The
Battle of Beni Mered took place in April 1842 between the French forces and the local Algerian units led by Ahmed himself The French had established a military reserve camp around the town of
Beni Mered between
Blida
Blida ( ar, البليدة; Tamazight: Leblida) is a city in Algeria. It is the capital of Blida Province, and it is located about 45 km south-west of Algiers, the national capital. The name ''Blida'', i.e. ''bulaydah'', is a diminutive ...
and
Boufarik
Boufarik is a town in Blida Province, Algeria, approximately 30 km from Algiers. In 2008, its population was 57,162.popul ...
.
The Berber horsemen under ''Ahmed bin Salem'' extended their operations from the region of
Kabylia
Kabylia ('' Kabyle: Tamurt n Leqbayel'' or ''Iqbayliyen'', meaning "Land of Kabyles", '','' meaning "Land of the Tribes") is a cultural, natural and historical region
Historical regions (or historical areas) are geographical regions which ...
to the
Mitidja Plain
Mitidja, (Arabic: , Berber: Mettijet ⵎⴻⵜⵙⵉⵛⵝ) is a plain stretching along the outskirts of Algiers in northern Algeria. It is about long, with a width of . Traditionally devoted largely to agriculture and serving as the breadbasket o ...
in early 1842 by attacking the French forces around the area of
Béni Mered. The attack took place on April 11, 1842, not far from the French military reserve camp, against a detachment of 30 French soldiers under the command of
Sergent Blandan. About 300 Berber horsemen under ''Ahmed bin Salem'' attacked and annihilated the French detachment. The Algerians did not lose a single man.
Battle of Tadmaït
General
Thomas Robert Bugeaud
Thomas Robert Bugeaud, marquis de la Piconnerie, duc d'Isly (15 October 178410 June 1849) was a Marshal of France and Governor-General of Algeria.
Early life
He was born at Limoges, a member of a noble family of Périgord (Occitania), the y ...
, during April 1844, attempted to launch an expedition to end the Emirate's influence over Kabylia. He planned on defeating Ahmed's forces in the
Tadmaït region. Upon meeting his enemy, they fought for 14 hours, but the French units retreated after conceding 32 casualties. Algerian casualties were also heavy.
Battle of Dellys
Battle of Tizi Ouzou (1845)
Nath Irathen campaign
Battle of Beni Jaad
Battle of Issers (1846)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmed bin Salem
Kabylie
Algerian resistance leaders
Kabyle people
Anti-imperialism in Africa
Algerian guerrillas
Algerian Sufis
1800s births
19th-century deaths
Year of birth uncertain
Year of death unknown