Larbaâ Nath Irathen (
Kabyle: Larebɛa n at Yiraten, or in
Tifinagh
Tifinagh ( Tuareg Berber language: or , ) is a script used to write the Berber languages. Tifinagh is descended from the ancient Libyco-Berber alphabet. The traditional Tifinagh, sometimes called Tuareg Tifinagh, is still favored by the Tuar ...
,
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
: الأربعاء ناث اراتين) is a town in
Tizi Ouzou Province
Tizi Ouzou ( Kabyle: Tawilayt n Tizi Wezzu, ar, ولاية تيزي وزو) is a province (''wilayah'') of Algeria in the Kabylia region. Its capital is Tizi Ouzou.
History
In 1984, Boumerdès Province was carved out of its territory.
Admini ...
, in the central part of northern
Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
. It was formerly known as Fort National. The population in 2001 was 28,000. The area is renowned for its majestic scenery.
Etymology
* ''Larbaa'' means "Wednesday" in Arabic, the town's traditional
souk day, or "four"/"fourth" in Kabyle
* ''N'' means "of"
* ''Ath Iraten'' means "sons of Irathen", the name of a major local tribe, recorded by
Ibn Khaldun; ''Irathen'' may originally have meant "lions".
History
On May 25, 1857, the town was the site of a battle during the French
Pacification of Algeria
The Pacification of Algeria was a series of military operations after the French conquest of the Regency of Algiers that aimed to put an end to various tribal rebellions, razzias and massacres of French settlers that were sporadically held in ...
. French-aligned forces under Marshal
Jacques Louis Randon
Jacques Louis César Alexandre Randon, 1st Count Randon (25 March 1795 – 16 January 1871) was a French military and political leader, also Marshal of France and governor of Algeria.
Early life
He was born at Grenoble in Dauphiné, of a Protesta ...
defeated
Kabyle defenders of the town as part of a campaign to curb Kabyle independence and bring them under the control of
French Algeria. Randon won the battle, but suffered 400 dead and 800 injured; Kabyle losses are unknown.
[Oussedik, Tahar. Lla Fat'ma N'Soumeur, Entreprise nationale du livre, 1986. p. 57–59.]
The town was at the forefront of the struggle for Algerian independence that would result in the
Algerian War. Each village had its share of martyrs but what distinguishes this commune is that it gave more than five leaders to the North African Star pro-independence organization. Among these leaders are Radjef Belkacem, Messaoui Rabah, Imache Ali, Iffour Rabah and Si Djillani Mohand Said. All these officials are from Ait Oumalou who was part of Larba Nath Irathen at the time. Messaoui Rabah died during the Second World War in Paris. It is also the place of birth of Abane Ramdane.
Notable residents
*
Ramdane Haifi
Ramdane Haïfi (1948 – February 24, 2007), also known as Ramdane Imazighen and Dda Ramdane, was an Algerian-French Berber nationalist activist. He was born in Ifnayen, Larbaâ Nath Irathen, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Berber ...
*
Elyazid Maddour
References
Communes of Tizi Ouzou Province
{{TiziOuzou-geo-stub