The Tuggurt expedition in 1552 aimed to obtain the submission of the Saharan cities of Tuggurt and

Ouargla Ouargla ( Berber: Wargrən, ar, ورقلة) is the capital city of Ouargla Province in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria. It has a flourishing petroleum industry and hosts one of Algeria's universities, the University of Ouargla. The commune ...

, seats of independent sultanates.

Salah Rais Salah Rais ( tr, Salih Reis, ar, صالح ريس) (c. 1488 – 1568) was the 7th King of Algiers, an Ottoman privateer and admiral. He is alternatively referred to as ''Sala Reis'', ''Salih Rais'', ''Salek Rais'' and ''Cale Arraez'' in sever ...

beylerbey ''Beylerbey'' ( ota, بكلربكی, beylerbeyi, lit=bey of beys, meaning the 'commander of commanders' or 'lord of lords') was a high rank in the western Islamic world in the late Middle Ages and early modern period, from the Anatolian Seljuks ...

of the

Regency 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 ...

, was allied to the troops of the

Kingdom of Ait Abbas The Kingdom of the Ait Abbas or Sultanate of the Beni Abbas ( ber, translit=tagelda n At Ɛebbas, ⵜⴰⴳⴻⵍⴷⴰ ⵏ ⴰⵜ ⵄⴻⴱⴱⴰⵙ; ar, سلطنة بني عباس ''salṭanat Beni Ɛabbas'') was a Kabyle, Berber state of No ...

, led by their sultan, Abdelaziz al-Abbas. The sultan of Tuggurt, head of two prosperous cities and Saharan principalities, refused to pay tribute to the

regency 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 ...

, which therefore launched an expedition to subdue him and also take control at the same time of a

caravan Caravan or caravans may refer to: Transport and travel *Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together **Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop *Camel train, a convoy using camels as pack animals *Convoy, a group of veh ...

route for the

Trans-Saharan trade Trans-Saharan trade requires travel across the Sahara between sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa. While existing from prehistoric times, the peak of trade extended from the 8th century until the early 17th century. The Sahara once had a very d ...

in gold.

, at the head of 1,000 spahis and 3,000 musketeers, as well as some pieces of

artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...

, was joined by 8,000 Kabyle auxiliaries from the Beni Abbes. In passing Salah Raïs subdued

Biskra Biskra ( ar, بسكرة ; ; Latin Vescera) is the capital city of Biskra Province, Algeria. In 2007, its population was recorded as 307,987. Biskra is located in northeastern Algeria, about 248 miles (400 km) from Algiers, 71 miles (115&nbs ...

, previously attacked in 1542 by Hassan Pasha, because it had refused to pay

tribute A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conqu ...

. Continuing south, he laid siege to Tuggurt for four days before conquering Ouargla. The local sultan, only 14 years old, retreated behind the city walls and hoped that the surrounding tribes, hostile to the Turks, would come to his rescue. Salah Raïs bombarded the city's defenses with cannon for three days. On the fourth day he attacked, massacred the city's inhabitants, and captured the young sultan. Salah Rais plundered the town, reputed to possess gold in quantity. He then took the road south to

. Faced with the methods of Salah Rais, the city's inhabitants fled and its sultan retreated with 4,000 horsemen towards

El Golea El Menia () is an oasis town and commune, and capital of El Ménia District, in Ghardaïa Province, Algeria. The former name is El Goléa (); together in Arabic, the two names mean ''Impregnable Castle''. According to the 2008 census it has a p ...

.Grammont p. 98-99, city name transcribed as Alcala Only African merchants and

marabout A marabout ( ar, مُرابِط, murābiṭ, lit=one who is attached/garrisoned) is a Muslim religious leader and teacher who historically had the function of a chaplain serving as a part of an Islamic army, notably in North Africa and the Saha ...

s remained when Salah Raïs arrived. The two sultanates surrendered and promised to pay tribute, so Salah Reis and Abdelaziz returned

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 ...

with a large booty that included gold and 5,000 slaves Grammont, 1998, p. 98-99

References

Bibliography

*Hugh Roberts,
Berber Government: The Kabyle Polity in Pre-colonial Algeria
', Boston, I.B.Tauris, 2014, 352 p. () * *,
Histoire Des Villes de la Province de Constantine : Sétif, Bordj-Bou-Arreridj, Msila, Boussaâda
', istory of the Cities of Constantine Province vol. 5, Constantine, Arnolet, 1872 (reprinted 2011), 456 p. ({{ISBN, 978-2-296-54115-3) Battles involving Ottoman Algeria Conflicts in 1552 1552 in Africa