Regency of Algiers: Map & History
The Regency of Algiers was an early modern semi-independent Ottoman frontier province and vassal state on the Barbary Coast of North Africa from 1516 to 1830.
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The Regency of Algiers was an early modern semi-independent Ottoman frontier province and vassal state on the Barbary Coast of North Africa from 1516 to 1830. Founded by the privateer brothers Aruj and Hayreddin Reis, the Regency became the centre of Ottoman authority in the Maghreb and a formidable base that waged maritime holy war (Jihad) on European Christian powers. It was ruled by elected regents under a stratocracy led by Janissaries and corsairs. Although European sources often associated Algiers with piracy, Algiers maintained long-standing diplomatic ties with European states and was a recognized Mediterranean power.
Modern Countries Once Part of Regency of Algiers
At its mapped extent, Regency of Algiers covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Regency of Algiers's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Regency of Algiers in Depth
History
Encouraged by the political disintegration of the Maghrebi Muslim states and fearing an alliance between the Moriscos (exiled Spanish Muslims) and the Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate, the Spanish Empire captured several cities and established walled and garrisoned strongpoints called presidios in North Africa. The Spanish conquered the city of Oran from the Zayyanids, as well as Béjaïa from the Hafsids in 1509, then Tripoli from the Hafsids in 1510, making other coastal cities submit to them, including Algiers, where they built an island fortress known as the Peñón of Algiers. In addition to territorial ambitions and Catholic missionary fervor, the gold and slave trades funded the Spanish treasury, as Spain controlled the caravan trade routes passing through the central Maghreb.
Economy
Gold coins: The Sultani and Mahbub, weighing approximately 3.2 grams, the half Sultani (1.6 grams) and the quarter Sultani (0.8 grams).
Silver coins: These were widely circulated and included the Algerian budju, weighing 10 grams and would equate 3 Algerian pataques.
Copper or billon coins: The aspre or akçe, sometimes referred to as the kharouba. Additionally, there was the mangır, a copper coin that fell out of use during the 18th century.
A unit of account, which did not exist as physical coinage, was also in use: The pataque chique, also known as the "current piastre of Algiers" in Europe, and known in Algiers as Cezayir doro.
Culture
Education mainly took place in small primary kuttabs (lit. 'schools') that focused on reading, writing and religion. Imams, zawiyas, marabouts and elders did most of the teaching. Literacy was so effectively taught in these religious schools that in 1830 the literacy rate in Algeria was higher than in France. Qadis or muftis often taught at the madrasas (lit. 'colleges') of the larger cities, maintained through central government funding and an inalienable charitable endowment under Islamic law, known as waqf. The students received education on Islamic jurisprudence and Islamic medicine. Afterwards they became teachers, joined the qadis and muftis or pursued further education in the universities of Tunis, Fez or Cairo.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Regency of Algiers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Regency of Algiers: Key Facts
| Capital | Algiers |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Ottoman Turkish, Arabic |
| Form of government | sultanate, eyalet |
| Founded | 1516 |
| Dissolved | 5 July 1830 |
Preceded by
- Emirate of Algiers
- Kingdom of Tlemcen
Facts from Wikidata Q3045696 (CC0).
Regency of Algiers Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Regency of Algiers appears, with the other states of the time.
Regency of Algiers Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 211,975 km² in 1810 CE.
Regency of Algiers: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Regency of Algiers exist?
Regency of Algiers is dated to 1706 CE – 1845 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
What was the capital of Regency of Algiers?
The capital of Regency of Algiers was Algiers.
How large was Regency of Algiers at its peak?
At its peak in 1810 Regency of Algiers covered about 211,975 km².
Other Sovereign Realms
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Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Raigad