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Peñón of Algiers
Peñón of Algiers (Spanish: Peñón de Argel, Arabic: حصن الصخرة, romanized: ḥiṣn aṣ-ṣaḵra) was a small islet off the coast of Algiers, fortified by the Kingdom of Spain, during the 16th century. The islet was connected to the African continent to form a seawall and the harbour of Algiers.
1. History
In 1510 the Spaniards settled on a small island, the Peñón, north of Algiers (in modern Algeria). They forced Sālim al-Tūmī (Selim-bin-Teumi) to observe the terms of a treaty with Spain, namely, to accept a Spanish presence and to pay tribute. Fortifications were built on the islet, and a garrison of 200 men was established. Sālim al-Tūmī had to go to Spain to take an oath of obedience to Ferdinand of Aragon. The islet was captured in 1529 by Hayreddin Barbarossa during the Capture of Algiers. Barbarossa dismantled the fortifications, ending the Spanish presence in the area.
1. References
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278 m
Bab Dzira
Bab Dzira (in Arabic: باب الدزيرة), also known as Bab El Dzira, was one of the Gates of the Casbah of Algiers, opening onto the sea along the city’s waterfront. It was among the historic city gates of Algiers.
In recent years, the name *Bab Dzira* has also been used to designate a new urban space built between Boulevard Che-Guevara and Boulevard Zighoud Youcef, facing the Port of Algiers, designed for public leisure and recreation.
442 m
Palais des Rais
The Palais des Rais (Arabic: قصر الرياس), also known as Bastion 23, is a classified historical monument located in Algiers, Algeria. It is notable for its architecture and for being the last surviving quarter (houma) of the lower Casbah of Algiers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Consisting of three palaces and six houses, whose history began with the construction of Bordj-Ez-zoubia in 1576 by the Dey Ramdhan Pasha in order to reinforce the means of defence of this side of the Medina, this quarter ended up being detached, and even isolated from its traditional environment following the restructuring of the lower Casbah during the French period.
It was not until 1909 that Bastion 23 was classified as a Historical Monument under the name Group of Moorish houses. The site was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
470 m
Djamaa el Kebir
The Djamaa el Kebir or Great Mosque of Algiers (Arabic: الجامع الكبير, romanized: djama' el-kebir), is a mosque located in the city of Algiers, Algeria. Built in 1097, it is one of the few remaining examples of Almoravid architecture. Although it has undergone other additions and reconstructions since its foundation, it is the oldest mosque in Algiers and is said to be one of the oldest mosques in Algeria after Sidi Okba Mosque and Sidi Ghanem Mosque. The mosque is located in the Casbah of Algiers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
617 m
Regency of Algiers
The Regency of Algiers was an early modern semi-independent Ottoman province and nominal vassal state on the Barbary Coast of North Africa from 1516 to 1830. Founded by the privateer brothers Aruj and Hayreddin Reis (also known as the Barbarossa brothers), the Regency succeeded the Kingdom of Tlemcen as 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. Despite its pirate reputation in Europe, Algiers maintained long-standing diplomatic ties with European states and was a recognized Mediterranean power.
The Regency emerged in the 16th-century Ottoman–Habsburg wars. As self-proclaimed ghazis gaining popular support and legitimacy from the religious leaders at the expense of hostile local emirs, the Barbarossa brothers and their successors carved a unique corsair state that drew revenue and political power from its naval warfare against Habsburg Spain. In the 17th century, when the wars between Spain and the Ottoman Empire, Kingdom of France, Kingdom of England and Dutch Republic ended, Barbary corsairs started capturing merchant ships and their crews and goods from these states. When the Ottomans could not prevent these attacks, European powers negotiated directly with Algiers and also took military action against it. This policy would emancipate Algiers from the Ottomans.
The Regency held significant naval power in the 16th and 17th centuries and well into the end of the Napoleonic wars despite European naval superiority. Its institutionalised privateering dealt substantial damage to European shipping, took captives for ransom, plundered booty, hijacked ships and eventually demanded regular tribute payments. In the rich and bustling city of Algiers, the Barbary slave trade reached an apex. The Regency also expanded its hold in the interior by allowing a large degree of autonomy to the tribal communities. After the janissary coup of 1659, the Regency became a sovereign military republic, and its rulers were thenceforth elected by the council known as the diwan rather than appointed by the Ottoman sultan previously.
Despite wars over territory with Spain and the Maghrebi states in the 18th century, Mediterranean trade and diplomatic relations with European states expanded, as wheat exports secured Algerian revenues after privateering decline. Bureaucratisation efforts stabilized the Regency's government, allowing into office regents such as Mohammed ben-Osman, who maintained Algerian prestige thanks to his public and defensive works. Increased Algerian privateering and demands for tribute started the Barbary Wars at the beginning of the 19th century, when Algiers was decisively defeated for the first time. Internal central authority weakened in Algiers due to political intrigue, failed harvests and the decline of privateering. Violent tribal revolts followed, mainly led by maraboutic orders such as the Darqawis and Tijanis. In 1830, France took advantage of this domestic turmoil to invade. The resulting French conquest of Algeria led to colonial rule until 1962.