The Battle of the Col des Beni Aïcha or Battle of Thenia, which broke out on 19 April 1871, was a battle of the
Mokrani Revolt
The Mokrani Revolt ( ar, مقاومة الشيخ المقراني, lit=Resistance of Cheikh El-Mokrani; ber, Unfaq urrumi, lit=French insurrection) was the most important local uprising against France in Algeria since the conquest in 1830.
The r ...
between the Algerian rebels, and the France, which was the colonial power in the region since 1830.
Presentation
After the Algerian rebels took control of
Palestro
Palestro is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Pavia. It is located on the banks of the river Sesia.
History
Although located in area settled by Celts, Etruscans, ancient Rome, Romans and Lombards, Palestro is mentioned for the first time ...
on 14 April 1871 after the
Battle of Palestro
The Battle of Palestro was fought on 30–31 May 1859 between the Austrian Empire and the combined forces of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont and France. The Franco-Piedmontese forces were victorious. It was fought just south to Palestro, a town i ...
, they wanted to conquer
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 =
, ...
and the city of
Algiers.
In order to achieve this,
Cheikh Mokrani
Sheikh Mohamed El-Mokrani ( ar, الشيخ محمد المقراني; ; d. 1871) was one of the principal leaders of the popular uprising of 1871 against the French occupation of Algeria.
Early life
Mohamed was a descendant of the rulers of t ...
's troops had to bypass the region of
Réghaïa via
Lower Kabylia
Kabylia ('' Kabyle: Tamurt n Leqbayel'' or ''Iqbayliyen'', meaning "Land of Kabyles", '','' meaning "Land of the Tribes") is a cultural, natural and historical region in northern Algeria and the homeland of the Kabyle people. It is part of the ...
, while the spring of 1871 had begun and the
Oued Isser
The Oued Isser is a river of Algeria. It begins in Médéa Province, is the main river, with Oued Sébaou of the Medea, which runs through the Lower Kabylie of Djurdjura (or the current province of Boumerdès) Wilaya of Bouira, then flows into ...
was in flood.
The Algerian soldiers went up from Palestro towards the northeast, far from the French garrisons and bivouacs from April 14, 1871, to reach after three days the French colony of Laazib Zamoum on April 17 where they lit wood fires all around this bud of French town.
The French settlers and soldiers began after the
Battle of Laazib Zamoum to flee the
Issers plain towards
Algiers, but the Algerian rebels pursued them towards
Bordj Menaïel
Bordj Menaïel (from the Arabic برج - bordj, "tower" and Berber ''imnayen'' "cavaliers") is a town in the Boumerdès Province in Algeria. It is located in the western Kabylie region at and is 30 km away from the city of Boumerdès. As ...
which was burned during the
Battle of Bordj Ménaïel, and similarly during the
Battle of the Issers.
Settlement of the Col des Beni Aïcha
Since 17 May 1837, Colonel
Maximilien Joseph Schauenburg and his French soldiers during the
Expedition of the Col des Beni Aïcha
The Expedition of the Col des Beni Aïcha in May 1837, during the French conquest of Algeria, pitted the troupes coloniales under Colonel Maximilien Joseph Schauenburg against the troops of ''Beni Aïcha'' of the ''Igawawen''.
Historical Conte ...
understood that control of the
Col des Beni Aïcha
In geomorphology, a col is the lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaks.Whittow, John (1984). ''Dictionary of Physical Geography''. London: Penguin, 1984, p. 103. . It may also be called a gap. Particularly rugged and forbidding c ...
region was crucial for the pacification of eastern Algiers and
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 ...
.
Several battles followed one another in this region until 1857 when Kabylia was pacified and the process of human and agricultural colonization began on the sequestered and despoiled land of the natives.
Thus in July 1860, colonist ''Paul Just'', a native of
Embrun in the
Hautes Alpes
Hautes-Alpes (; oc, Auts Aups; en, Upper Alps) is a department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. It is located in the heart of the French Alps, after which it is named. Hautes-Alpes had a population of 141,22 ...
, by order of Governor General
Patrice de MacMahon
Marie Edme Patrice Maurice de MacMahon, marquis de MacMahon, duc de Magenta (; 13 June 1808 – 17 October 1893) was a French general and politician, with the distinction of Marshal of France. He served as Chief of State of France from 1873 to 1 ...
, arrived on the ''Col des Beni Aïcha'' escorted by a military garrison to found an agricultural concession.
Followed by several other settlers, ''Paul Just'' built wooden houses to found the new settlement, hence the name "Wooden Village".
The ''Col des Beni Aïcha'' colony quickly became a stage coach, and a café was opened there as well as a wooden chapel and a distillery.
The colonial village thus evolved slowly from 1860 until 1871 when the
Pieds-Noirs lived on the meager product of the land and the stopping of travelers at the stage of the diligence.
Battle
![Plan de Thénia des Béni Aïcha dans le territoire des Khachna à l'est d'Alger](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Plan_de_Th%C3%A9nia_des_B%C3%A9ni_A%C3%AFcha_dans_le_territoire_des_Khachna_%C3%A0_l%27est_d%27Alger.jpg)
During the day of 19 April 1837, the Algerian rebels sprang from the south of the colonial village of ''Col des Beni Aïcha'' coming from liberated ''Palestro'', and arriving from the
Issers and the heights of the ''Iflissen'', and invaded the entire periphery of the future ''
Menerville'' then ''
Thenia''.
The rebels were commanded in this battle by the Marabout
Cheikh Boumerdassi, Cheikh of the ''
Zawiyet Sidi Boumerdassi
Zawiyet Sidi Boumerdassi ( ar, زاوية سيدي البومرداسي) or Zawiyet Ouled Boumerdès is a zawiya located within Boumerdès Province in Algeria.
Construction
The zawiya of Ouled Boumerdès was built in 1714 in the southern hei ...
'', and Marabout
Cheikh Boushaki, Cheikh of the ''
Zawiyet Sidi Boushaki
Zawiyet Sidi Brahim Boushaki ( ar, زاوية سيدي إبراهيم البوسحاقي) or Zawiyet Thénia is a zawiya of the Rahmaniyya Sufi brotherhood located in Boumerdès Province within lower Kabylia of Algeria.
Construction
The za ...
'', who led this Algerian attack against the French colonies in
Lower Kabylia
Kabylia ('' Kabyle: Tamurt n Leqbayel'' or ''Iqbayliyen'', meaning "Land of Kabyles", '','' meaning "Land of the Tribes") is a cultural, natural and historical region in northern Algeria and the homeland of the Kabyle people. It is part of the ...
.
The rebels of the Iflissen (Flissas), the Issers, the Beni Aïcha, the Beni-Amran and the Khachnas then went to the colonial village of the Col des Beni-Aïcha, from which the settlers were able to escape in time, but who was looted, then set on fire.
Indeed, around noon on 19 April 1871, almost all the French colonists had left the village of the ''Col des Beni Aïcha'', and almost immediately the hamlet was invaded by Algerian rebels.
Cheikh Mokrani
Sheikh Mohamed El-Mokrani ( ar, الشيخ محمد المقراني; ; d. 1871) was one of the principal leaders of the popular uprising of 1871 against the French occupation of Algeria.
Early life
Mohamed was a descendant of the rulers of t ...
, for his part, remained entrenched in liberated ''Palestro'' and gave his orders to the rebel troops, while orchestrating and preparing the coveted capture of Algiers.
Counter attack
![Thenia 11092012](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Thenia_11092012.jpg)
After the
Battle of Alma
The Battle of the Alma (short for Battle of the Alma River) was a battle in the Crimean War between an allied expeditionary force (made up of French, British, and Ottoman forces) and Russian forces defending the Crimean Peninsula on 20Septem ...
turned to defeat against the Algerian rebels on 23 April 1871, after the arrival of Colonel
Alexandre Fourchault and his French reinforcements from Algiers, the Algerians entrenched themselves at the
Col des Beni Aïcha
In geomorphology, a col is the lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaks.Whittow, John (1984). ''Dictionary of Physical Geography''. London: Penguin, 1984, p. 103. . It may also be called a gap. Particularly rugged and forbidding c ...
to try to rebound again on
Alma
Alma or ALMA may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Alma'' (film), a 2009 Spanish short animated film
* ''Alma'' (Oswald de Andrade novel), 1922
* ''Alma'' (Le Clézio novel), 2017
* ''Alma'' (play), a 1996 drama by Joshua Sobol about Alma ...
.
This is how Colonel ''Alexandre Fourchault'', after having recaptured ''Alma'', walked energetically on the ''Col des Beni Aïcha'' which he took up again after sharp clashes on 30 April 1871 with the rebels.
But the Algerians continued until 8 May 1871 to attack the hamlet of ''Col des Beni Aïcha'' from all sides, since it is located in a basin surrounded by mountains to the north and south.
Colonel ''Fourchault'' had barricaded himself in the burnt and looted village while waiting for reinforcements from General
Orphis Léon Lallemand
Orphis Léon Lallemand (27 September 181720 December 1893) was a French officer.
Career Conquest of Algeria
He arrived in Algeria in May 1842 as a lieutenant of General staff to serve in North Africa during the French conquest of Algeria.
He ser ...
who had gathered in Alma to rush on the ''Col des Beni Aïcha'' to free it from the insurrection of
Cheikh Mokrani
Sheikh Mohamed El-Mokrani ( ar, الشيخ محمد المقراني; ; d. 1871) was one of the principal leaders of the popular uprising of 1871 against the French occupation of Algeria.
Early life
Mohamed was a descendant of the rulers of t ...
.
Without hesitating a second, and without waiting for reinforcements, General ''Lallemand'' left ''Alma'' with his head down, and the next day, Tuesday 9 May 1871, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, his military column was encamped at the ''Col des Beni Aïcha'', which gives access to
Great Kabylia
Kabylia ('' Kabyle: Tamurt n Leqbayel'' or ''Iqbayliyen'', meaning "Land of Kabyles", '','' meaning "Land of the Tribes") is a cultural, natural and historical region in northern Algeria and the homeland of the Kabyle people. It is part of the ...
.
Punishment of villages
![Hôpital de Thénia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/H%C3%B4pital_de_Th%C3%A9nia.jpg)
On 7 May 1871, Colonel ''Fourchault'' was thus instructed to go and burn the villages of the ''Ammal'' on the left bank of the
Oued Isser
The Oued Isser is a river of Algeria. It begins in Médéa Province, is the main river, with Oued Sébaou of the Medea, which runs through the Lower Kabylie of Djurdjura (or the current province of Boumerdès) Wilaya of Bouira, then flows into ...
, which were abandoned by their inhabitants, and he had to operate with a light column of infantry without bags and cavalry. Left at 11 a.m. to chastise the rebel villages and try to capture the two Sheikhs, he returned to Alma camp at 7 p.m., and had earlier sent a report to General Lallemand where he said that everything was 'had gone for the best.
The two villages (decheras) to which Lallemand wanted to inflict punishment were razed and burned without any gunshot, with the exception of two Algerians who were taken with arms and who were executed on the spot. The skirmishers burned a few gourbis, and the Turcos and Zouaves took charge of the loot collected.
On May 8, 1871, at 5 a.m., General Lallemand's column set out for the Beni-Aïcha pass, following the ridges which form the dividing line between the Isser valley and that
of Corso. This road had the advantage of leading to the pass through the ridge line, avoiding the difficulties that would have had to be overcome if we had to force the passage directly. A big stop was made at the fountains of Azela and Tilfaouïn.
The Khachna of the civilian territory had made their submission and sent hostages; they had returned to their villages, where they were not disturbed. Shortly before arriving at the Beni Aïcha pass, General Lallemand had doubts as to whether the villages of
Soumâa
Soumâa or Thala Oufella is a village in the Boumerdès Province in Kabylie, Algeria.
Location
The village is surrounded by Meraldene River and Isser River, and also the town of Thenia in the Khachna mountain range.
Zawiya
* Zawiyet Sidi Bou ...
,
Gueddara
Gueddara is a village in the Boumerdès Province in Kabylie, Algeria.
Location
The village is surrounded by Meraldene River and the town of Thenia in the ''Khachna'' mountain range.
Zawiya
* Zawiyet Sidi Boushaki
History
This village has expe ...
,
Meraldene
Meraldene or Merabtene is a village in the Boumerdès Province in Kabylie, Algeria.
Location
The village is surrounded by Meraldene River, the Meraldene Dam and the town of Thénia in the Khachna mountain range.
Zawiya
* Zawiyet Sidi Bous ...
,
Tabrahimt
Tabrahimt is a village in the Boumerdès Province in Kabylie, Algeria.
Location
The village is surrounded by Meraldene and the town of Thenia in the ''Khachna'' mountain range.
Zawiya
* Zawiyet Sidi Boushaki
History
This village has experi ...
and
Azela had really provided hostages.
Colonel Fourchault, who marched in the vanguard, asked the native affairs officer who accompanied him for information on this subject; the latter replied that he was not sure about it, but that General Lallemand was not far behind and that it would be easy to consult him. The people of these villages came out of their houses unarmed and came to meet the column to make an act of submission.
Colonel Fourchault, considering that these villagers were among the rebels who looted the houses of the Beni-Aïcha pass, ordered them to be slashed by the peloton of hunters on horseback who marched as scouts on the village, followed by a group of infantry.
The hunters surrounded the people of
Soumâa
Soumâa or Thala Oufella is a village in the Boumerdès Province in Kabylie, Algeria.
Location
The village is surrounded by Meraldene River and Isser River, and also the town of Thenia in the Khachna mountain range.
Zawiya
* Zawiyet Sidi Bou ...
,
Gueddara
Gueddara is a village in the Boumerdès Province in Kabylie, Algeria.
Location
The village is surrounded by Meraldene River and the town of Thenia in the ''Khachna'' mountain range.
Zawiya
* Zawiyet Sidi Boushaki
History
This village has expe ...
,
Meraldene
Meraldene or Merabtene is a village in the Boumerdès Province in Kabylie, Algeria.
Location
The village is surrounded by Meraldene River, the Meraldene Dam and the town of Thénia in the Khachna mountain range.
Zawiya
* Zawiyet Sidi Bous ...
,
Tabrahimt
Tabrahimt is a village in the Boumerdès Province in Kabylie, Algeria.
Location
The village is surrounded by Meraldene and the town of Thenia in the ''Khachna'' mountain range.
Zawiya
* Zawiyet Sidi Boushaki
History
This village has experi ...
and
Azela who had advanced and began to fire rifle shots at them almost at close range. They were so taken by this macabre reception, which they were far from expecting, that they did not even think of fleeing and fifteen of them fell dead one after the other. Fourchault marched on the village which was pillaged and his soldiers shot at the women who were fleeing in the ravines with the men who had not been hit.
One of the villagers who had fallen under the bullets was only wounded and he remained motionless pretending to be dead, and when the shooters went to take off his burnous, he took his course in the ravine and managed to escape, but five other men from the villages were similarly killed, and a woman was also killed while fleeing into the ravine.
After this raid of punishment, the column of Fourchault established its bivouac at the deserted Col des Beni-Aïcha, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon after having traveled 20 kilometers, and it found water there at the fountain of the village and to a fairly abundant spring located above the camp. Orders were given to rally the convoy and the luggage left at the Alma to spend the day of May 9 resting at the Beni Aïcha pass before continuing to hunt down the rebels.
Captures of Cheikhs
![Cimetière de Thénia (Djebana El Ghorba) Aïth Aïcha Boumerdès Kabylie](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Cimeti%C3%A8re_de_Th%C3%A9nia_%28Djebana_El_Ghorba%29_A%C3%AFth_A%C3%AFcha_Boumerd%C3%A8s_Kabylie.jpg)
Before reaching the ''Col des Beni Aïcha'', General ''Lallemand'' had given on 8 April 1871 the orders to intercept and capture
Cheikh Boumerdassi and
Cheikh Mohamed Boushaki
Zawiyet Sidi Brahim Boushaki ( ar, زاوية سيدي إبراهيم البوسحاقي) or Zawiyet Thénia is a zawiya of the Rahmaniyya Sufi brotherhood located in Boumerdès Province within lower Kabylia of Algeria.
Construction
The zaw ...
in their entrenchments and hiding places in the mountains of ''
Khachna'' and ''
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 ( ...
''.
Finally
Cheikh Boumerdassi, his brother
Abdelkader Boumerdassi, as well as
Cheikh Mohamed Boushaki
Zawiyet Sidi Brahim Boushaki ( ar, زاوية سيدي إبراهيم البوسحاقي) or Zawiyet Thénia is a zawiya of the Rahmaniyya Sufi brotherhood located in Boumerdès Province within lower Kabylia of Algeria.
Construction
The zaw ...
were flushed out and captured before being imprisoned.
Cheikh ''Mohamed Boumerdassi'' was deported to
New Caledonia in 1874, aged 56 at the time and whose name was ''Mohamed ben Hamou ben Ali Boumerdassi'', with the order number: 130133.
After the complete stifling of this insurrection of Sheikh Mokrani, the orders of sequestration and spoliation of the lands of the Algerian insurgents were promulgated.
If insurgents were then sentenced to the death penalty or to hard labor for life, others were simply deported to New Caledonia after being taken prisoner at Fort Quélern, then transported by the ship La Loire to on board thirty-four Algerian political deportees via the ninth convoy that left the port of Brest on 5 June 1874 and arrived at the port of Nouméa on 16 October 1874.
See also
*
Zawiyet Sidi Boumerdassi
Zawiyet Sidi Boumerdassi ( ar, زاوية سيدي البومرداسي) or Zawiyet Ouled Boumerdès is a zawiya located within Boumerdès Province in Algeria.
Construction
The zawiya of Ouled Boumerdès was built in 1714 in the southern hei ...
*
Zawiyet Sidi Boushaki
Zawiyet Sidi Brahim Boushaki ( ar, زاوية سيدي إبراهيم البوسحاقي) or Zawiyet Thénia is a zawiya of the Rahmaniyya Sufi brotherhood located in Boumerdès Province within lower Kabylia of Algeria.
Construction
The za ...
*
Cheikh Boumerdassi
External links
*
*
*
*
*
*
Bibliography
(fr) Un Épisode de l’insurrection Kabyle. — L’Alma, Palestro
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Col des Beni Aïcha, Battle of the
Conflicts in 1871
1871 in Algeria
Mokrani Revolt
Battles involving Algeria
Battles involving France
April 1871 events
Battles of the Mokrani Revolt
Thénia