The Battle of Agueddin took place between the Emirate of Abdelkader and the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco that took place in December 1847.
| Battle of Agueddin | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.png) Emir Abdelkader in Kabylia (1838-1839) | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Emirate of Abdelkader |
 Alaouite Dynasty | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Emir Abdelkader |
Moulay Mohammed Moulay Soliman | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 2,000 men[1][2] | 50,000 men[1][2] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 200 men[1] | Heavy | ||||||
Background
editEmir Abdelkader was outlawed in Morocco following the Treaty of Tangiers.[4][5][6] This led to a series of confrontations between him and the Moroccan forces in which even an assassin had been sent in an attempt to kill him, these tensions ultimately led to the Battle of Oued Aslaf which resulted in an Algerian victory.[1][7]
On the 9th of December Emir Abdelkaders camp was situated in Agueddin, the very next day he was warned of a Moroccan army of 50,000 men split into three divisions and led by the two sons of Abd al-Rahman, Moulay Mohammed and Moulay Soliman.[1]
Battle
editOn the 11th of December Emir Abdelkader gathered 1,200 cavalry and 800 infantry and prepared for battle.[1] At night camels that were covered with halfa, which had been dipped in tar and pitch were driven in the front of the column. After marching for two hours, Abdelkader encountered the first Moroccan division, he then set fire to the halfa covered camels and they plunged against the Moroccan cavalry.[1] The Moroccans were bewildered, terrified and ultimately defeated, abandoning their tents, arms and baggage.[1] Emir Abdelkader advanced and surprised and defeated the second Moroccan division in the same manner as the first.[1]
Emir Abdelkader advanced on to the third division where he was checked by heavy fire, as a result he withdrew and took position. By mid-day 5,000 Moroccan cavalrymen set out to attack Abdelkader who calmly waited for them. When they were at charging distance he led his men to attack them, ploughing through them and shaking them off using a skillful combination of assault and retreat Abdelkader was successful.[1]
Aftermath
editAlthough Abdelkader was able to defeat the Moroccans during all of the earlier military engagements, they still advanced, but cautiously.[1] Emir Abdelkader made the decision to withdraw from Algeria and enter French territory which ultimately led to his surrender.[1][8][4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m The Life of Abdel Kader, Ex-sultan of the Arabs of Algeria: Written from His Own Dictation, and Comp. from Other Authentic Sources. P.259-261. Charles Henry Churchill Chapman and Hall, 1867
- ^ a b c Sasha Toperich, Samy Boukaila, Jonathan Roberts (2019). Algeria and Transatlantic Relations. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-9600127-0-1.
- ^ Sanderson, Edgar. Hero Patriots of the Nineteenth Century. T.Y. Cromwell & Company, 1901. p.218.
- ^ a b African Studies in the Soviet Union: Yearbook. Nauka, Central Department of Oriental Literature.
- ^ The Independent Nations of Africa Njorge Mungai Acme Press
- ^ Historical Abstracts: Modern history abstracts, 1775-1914. Part A American Bibliographical Center, CLIO
- ^ Emir Abd El-Kader: Hero and Saint of Islam Ahmed Bouyerdene World Wisdom, Inc.
- ^ Magill's Guide to Military History: Cor-Jan John Powell, Christina J. Moose, Rowena Wildin