Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

Maghrib, corresponding to nowadays Algeria, was colored by a multitude of
inter-warring kingdoms that were falling apart. Internal conflicts and tribal
warfare which erupted earlier had weakened the political unity in the region
and the ruling dynasties, Hafsids in the east and Zayanids in the west, lost
control in their respective regions. They became easy preys to the Spaniards
who, animated by an aggressive, revengeful, and anti-Muslim crusading spirit
attacked them relentlessly.
In the west, the decaying kingdom of Tlemcen gave way to the Spanish
conquistadors who set a foothold in Mers-el-Kebir as early as 1505. In 1509,
they took control of Oran and reduced it to the position of a vassal state paying
tribute to Spain. In Ténès, a self-proclaimed monarch placed himself under the
protection of the Spaniards and recognized Spanish sovereignty. 17
At the
center, the city-state of El-Jaza’ir was ruled by a weakening Andalusian
dynasty; here too, the Spaniards occupied and fortified the small offshore islet
of Beni-Mezr’anna and transformed it to a stronghold which they renamed ‘el
Peñon d’Argel’. 18 By doing so, they asphyxiated the economic life of the city;
henceforth, the Penon acted as a permanent sword of Damocles over the heads
of the inhabitants of Algiers. In the east, Constantine was at the hands of a
Hafsid prince who no more recognized the sovereignty of the Hafsid dynasty in
Tunis and extended his influence to Annaba and Collo. 19 Hence, faced with
17 Henri-D. de Grammont, Histoire d’Alger sous la domination Turque, 1515-1830 (Paris: Ernest
Leroux, 1887), p. 18.
18 F. Élie de la Primaudaie, “Le commerce et la navigation de l’Algérie,” Revue Algérienne et
Coloniale (Juin 1860), p. 189. The islet had an area of about 31 km² and was situated about 300 meters
off the shore of Algiers.
19 Primaudaie, “Commerce et navigation,” pp. 94-5.
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