The ''Raid on Reghaïa'' in May 1837, during the

French conquest of Algeria The French invasion of Algeria (; ) took place between 1830 and 1903. In 1827, an argument between Hussein Dey, the ruler of the Deylik of Algiers, and the French consul escalated into a blockade, following which the July Monarchy of France inva ...

, pitted the French colonizers in

Reghaïa Reghaïa is a municipality in Algiers Province, Algeria. It is located in Rouïba district and is the most populated municipality of the district. Geography It is located in the northern part of the plain of Mitidja, with sandy beaches along th ...

region against the Kabyle troops of the

Igawawen 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 ...

confederacy.

Background

Before colonization the Igawawen, also known as Zwawas served as troops under the

Deylik of Algiers The Regency of Algiers ( ar, دولة الجزائر, translit=Dawlat al-Jaza'ir) was a state in North Africa lasting from 1516 to 1830, until it was conquered by the French. Situated between the regency of Tunis in the east, the Sultanate o ...

. Following a coup by

Ali Khodja Ali V Ben Ahmed, nicknamed Ali Khodja, Ali-Meguer, or Ali Loco (the mad) (Arabic: علي ابن أحمد خوجة) was a Kouloughlis, Kouloughli of partial Georgia (country), Georgian (Mingrelians, Mengrelian) and Native Algerian origins born in m ...

they gained more influence inside the country. In 1830 France invaded Algiers, and started the French conquest of Algeria. The Zwawa served under the armies led by Ibrahim Agha, and particularly in the

Battle of Staouéli A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

. Following the Fall of

Algiers Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...

, the French started encroaching on the Mitidja region surrounding the city. Initially defeating the forces of Mostéfa Boumezrag at Médea, they were soon halted at the

First Battle of Blida The First Expedition of Blida took place from 22 to 24 July 1830, during the French conquest of Algeria. The Expedition On 22 July 1830, Marshal de Bourmont organized a reconnaissance expedition on the city of Blida. On the early morning of 23 J ...

Mohamed ben Zamoum Mohamed ben Zamoum (born in Boghni on 1795 and died also in Boghni on 1843) was a Kabyle marabout who participated in the Algerian resistance against the French conquest of Algeria. Family Mohamed ben Zamoum was born during the year 1795 in t ...

. By 1837 the majority of the Mitidja was seized, and France started encroaching on the lands of the Zwawa.

Mercier and Saussine Farm

After Colonel

Maximilien Joseph Schauenburg Maximilien Joseph Schauenburg (born in Saint Stephen's Church on 30 April 1784 and died in Paris on 19 September 1838) was a French officer who participated to the French conquest of Algeria. Family Born on 30 April 1784 in Saint Stephen's ...

(1784-1838) perpetrated the

Massacre of El Ouffia The Massacre of El Ouffia took place on 6 April 1832 during the French conquest of Algeria. It was a war crime committed against the tribe of El Ouffia near El Harrach by the Troupes Coloniales under Colonel Maximilien Joseph Schauenburg. Hist ...

in 1832, the pace of spoliation and sequestration of

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

n lands and properties increased in order to settle more French farmers in

Mitidja 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 ...

from the year 1836. Thus, in

, a settlement of more than 3,000 hectares was granted to two Frenchmen, called Mercier and ''Saussine, in order to establish a large agricultural establishment in this wet plain. The entrepreneur ''Mercier'' who had just arrived from the

United States of America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

in 1836 was already experienced in the handling of businesses and operations of this kind.

Attack

Emir Mustapha Mustapha ibn Muhieddine (1814–1863; ar, مصطفى ابن محيي الدين '), known as Emir Mustapha, Sidi Moustafa, Moustafa El Hassani El Djazairi, was an Algerian religious and military leader who led a struggle against the Frenc ...

(1814–1863) organized an attack which took place from 8 May 1837 against the farm of Reghaia, located between and within the

plain. The Zwawa confederacy, more specifically the Beni Aïcha, the

Issers Isser, formerly spelled Issers ( ar, يسر, kab, ⵉⵙⴻⵔ) is a town and commune in Boumerdès Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 27,990. As of the latest census it has 32,580 residents. Isser is locate ...

and the Amraoua tribes looted Reghaïa. Two French colonists were killed by the Zwawa in the agricultural fields, and a considerable amount of

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 mal ...

was taken from the enclosures and transported to the region of

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 ...

. Nevertheless, the ''Reghaïa'' farm was successfully defended by its owners and the local troops against this first attack in the dividing line between ''Mitidja'' 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 in northern Algeria and the homeland of the Kabyle people. It is part of th ...

, as it was next during the second attack in 1839, then under

Emir Abdelkader Abdelkader ibn Muhieddine (6 September 1808 – 26 May 1883; ar, عبد القادر ابن محي الدين '), known as the Emir Abdelkader or Abdelkader El Hassani El Djazairi, was an Algerian religious and military leader who led a struggl ...

, and Ahmed ben Salem.

Gallery

File:Abd al-Qadir.jpg,

File:Damrémont par Julien.jpg,

Charles-Marie Denys de Damrémont Charles-Marie Denys, comte de Damrémont (8 February 1783–12 October 1837) was a French general and military governor of French Algeria. He was killed in combat during the siege of Constantine. Early life Charles-Marie Denys was born in Chaumo ...

File:Colonel Maximilien Joseph Schauenburg 4.jpg,

File:Col de Ténia.jpg,

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 Contex ...

(1837) File:Photo boudouaou marine 08102014.jpg,

First Battle of Boudouaou The First Battle of Boudouaou in 25–26 May 1837, during the French conquest of Algeria, pitted the troupes coloniales under Colonel Maximilien Joseph Schauenburg against the troops of Kabylia of the ''Igawawen''. Historical Context When Emi ...

(1837)

External links

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Bibliography

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References

Conflicts in 1837 1837 in Algeria Battles involving Algeria Battles involving France May 1837 events 1830s in Algeria French colonial empire Invasions by France 19th century in Algeria Algerian War Rebellions in Africa Wars involving the states and peoples of Africa Wars of independence {{Mil-hist-stub