Editing History of Algeria (section)

== Regency of Algiers ==
{{main|Regency of Algiers}}

The Regency of Algiers{{efn|In the historiography relating to the regency of Algiers, it has been named "Kingdom of Algiers",{{sfn|Tassy|1725|pp=1, 3, 5, 7, 12, 15 et al}} "Republic of Algiers",{{sfn|Tassy|1725|p=300 chap. XX}} "State of Algiers",{{sfn|Ghalem|Ramaoun|2000|p=27}} "State of El-Djazair",{{sfn|Kaddache|1998|p=3}} "Ottoman Regency of Algiers",{{sfn|Ghalem|Ramaoun|2000|p=27}} "precolonial Algeria", "Ottoman Algeria",{{sfn|Panzac|1995|p=62}} etc. The Algerian historian {{ill|Mahfoud Kaddache|fr}} said that "Algeria was first a regency, a kingdom-province of the Ottoman Empire and then a state with a large autonomy, even independent, called sometimes kingdom or military republic by the historians, but still recognizing the spiritual authority of the caliph of Istanbul".{{sfn|Kaddache|1998|p=233}}}} ({{langx|ar|دولة الجزائر|translit=Dawlat al-Jaza'ir}}{{efn|The French historians Ahmed Koulakssis and Gilbert Meynier write that "its the same word, in international treaty which describes the city and the country it commands : Al Jazâ’ir".{{sfn|Koulakssis|Meynier|1987|p=17}} Gilbert Meynier adds that "even if the path is difficult to build a State on the rubble of Zayanid's and Hafsids States [...] now, we speak about ''dawla al-Jaza’ir''{{sfn|Meynier|2010|p=315}} (power-state of Algiers)"...}}) was a state in [[North Africa]] lasting from 1516 to 1830, until it was [[French conquest of Algeria|conquered by the French]]. Situated between the [[Ottoman Tunisia|regency of Tunis]] in the east, the [[Sultanate of Morocco]] (from 1553) in the west and [[Tuat]]<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=JBYRAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22avant+1830%2C+les+Touatiens+payaient+%22&pg=RA1-PA91 Mémoires de la Société Bourguignonne de Géographie et d'Histoire], Volumes 11-12 Societé Bourguignonne de Géographie et d'Histoire, Dijon</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=eswBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA849 Nouvelle géographie universelle: La terre et les hommes], Volume 11 Reclus Librairie Hachette & Cie.,</ref> as well as the country south of [[In Salah Province|In Salah]]<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=gclU5zFVa0EC&pg=PT11 Sands of Death: An Epic Tale Of Massacre And Survival In The Sahara] Michael Asher Hachette UK,</ref> in the south (and the [[European enclaves in North Africa before 1830|Spanish and Portuguese possessions of North Africa]]), the Regency originally extended its borders from [[El Kala|La Calle]] in the east to Trara in the west and from [[Algiers]] to [[Biskra]],<ref>Collective coordinated by Hassan Ramaoun, ''L'Algérie : histoire, société et culture'', [[Casbah Editions]], 2000, 351 p. ({{ISBN|9961-64-189-2}}), p. 27</ref> and afterwards spread to the present eastern and western borders of Algeria.<ref>Hélène Blais. "La longue histoire de la délimitation des frontières de l'Algérie", in Abderrahmane Bouchène, Jean-Pierre Peyroulou, Ouanassa Siari Tengour and Sylvie Thénault, ''Histoire de l'Algérie à la période coloniale : 1830-1962'', {{ill|Éditions La Découverte|fr|La Découverte}} et [[Éditions Barzakh]], 2012 ({{ISBN|9782707173263}}), p. 110-113.</ref>

It had various degrees of autonomy throughout its existence, in some cases reaching complete independence, recognized even by the [[Ottoman sultan]].<ref name="rel3">{{cite web |title=Relations Entre Alger et Constantinople Sous La Gouvernement du Dey Mohammed Ben Othmane Pacha, Selon Les Sources Espagnoles |url=https://docplayer.fr/10763014-Relations-entre-alger-et-constantinople-sous-la-gouvernement-du-dey-mohammed-ben-othmane-pacha-1766-1791-selon-les-sources-espagnoles.html |access-date=2021-02-12 |website=docplayer.fr}}</ref> The country was initially governed by governors appointed by the Ottoman sultan (1518–1659), rulers appointed by the [[Odjak of Algiers]] (1659–1710), and then [[Dey]]s elected by the [[Divan of Algiers]] from (1710-1830).

=== Establishment ===
[[File:Eyalet_Algeria_in_1560.png|left|thumb|Ottoman Algeria in 1560.]]
From 1496, the Spanish conquered numerous possessions on the North African coast: [[Melilla]] (1496), [[Mers El Kébir]] (1505), [[Oran]] (1509), [[Béjaïa|Bougie]] (1510), [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] (1510), [[Algiers]], [[Shershell]], [[Dellys]], and [[Tenes]].<ref name="AHG 107">[https://books.google.com/books?id=8gs4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA107 ''An Historical Geography of the Ottoman Empire'' p.107''ff'']</ref> The Spaniards later led unsuccessful expeditions to take Algiers in the [[Algiers Expedition (1516)|Algiers expedition in 1516]], [[Algiers Expedition (1519)|1519]] and another failed [[Algiers expedition (1541)|expedition in 1541]].

Around the same time, the Ottoman [[privateer]] brothers [[Oruç Reis|Oruç]] and [[Hayreddin Barbarossa|Hayreddin]]—both known to [[Europe]]ans as Barbarossa, or "Red Beard"—were operating successfully off [[Tunisia]] under the [[Hafsids]]. In 1516, Oruç moved his base of operations to Algiers. He asked for the protection of the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1517, but was killed in 1518 during his invasion of the [[Kingdom of Tlemcen|Zayyanid Kingdom]] of [[Tlemcen]]. Hayreddin succeeded him as military commander of Algiers.<ref>↑ Kamel Filali, L'Algérie mystique : Des marabouts fondateurs aux khwân insurgés, XVe-XIXe siècles, Paris, Publisud, coll. « Espaces méditerranéens », 2002, 214 p. ({{ISBN|2866008952}}), p. 56</ref>

In 1551 [[Hasan Pasha (son of Barbarossa)|Hasan Pasha]], the son of Hayreddin defeated the Spanish-Moroccan armies during a [[Campaign of Tlemcen (1551)|campaign to recapture Tlemcen]], thus cementing Ottoman control in western and central Algeria.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Plummer III |first=Comer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dmSVCgAAQBAJ&q=mostaganem+1551&pg=PA9-IA4 |title=Roads to Ruin: The War for Morocco In the Sixteenth Century |date=2015-09-09 |publisher=Lulu Press, Inc |isbn=978-1-4834-3104-8 |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

After that, the conquest of Algeria sped up. In 1552 [[Salah Rais]], with the help of some [[Kabyle people|Kabyle]] kingdoms, [[Touggourt Expedition (1552)|conquered Touggourt]], and established a foothold in the Sahara.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gaïd |first=Mouloud |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F-pAAAAAYAAJ |title=Chronique des beys de Constantine |date=1978 |publisher=Office des publications universitaires |language=fr}}</ref>

In the 1560s eastern Algeria was centralized, and the power struggle which had been present ever since the [[Hafsids of Béjaïa|Emirate of Béjaïa]] collapsed came to an end.

During the 16th, 17th, and early 18th century, the Kabyle Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Kuku|Kuku]] and [[Kingdom of Beni Abbas|Ait Abbas]] managed to maintain their independence<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=83koAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA118 Sketches of Algeria During the Kabyle War By Hugh Mulleneux Walmsley: Pg 118]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=lsVvCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT219 Memoirs Of Marshal Bugeaud From His Private Correspondence And Original Documents, 1784-1849 Maréchal Thomas Robert Bugeaud duc d’Isly]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=E324pQEEQQcC&pg=PA165 The Oxford Dictionary of Islam edited by John L. Esposito: Pg 165]</ref> repelling Ottoman attacks several times, notably in the [[First Battle of Kalaa of the Beni Abbes (1553)|First Battle of Kalaa of the Beni Abbes]]. This was mainly thanks to their ideal position deep inside the [[Kabylia Mountains]] and their great organisation, and the fact that unlike in the West and East where collapsing kingdoms such as Tlemcen or Béjaïa were present, Kabylia had two new and energetic emirates.

=== Base in the war against Spain ===
Hayreddin Barbarossa established the military basis of the regency. The Ottomans provided a supporting garrison of 2,000 Turkish troops with artillery.<ref name="Naylorp 117">{{cite book |last=Naylorp |first=Phillip Chiviges |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a1jfzkJTAZgC&pg=PA117 |title=North Africa: a history from antiquity to the present |publisher=University of Texas Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-292-71922-4 |page=117 |access-date=24 October 2010}}</ref> He left [[Hasan Agha]] in command as his deputy when he had to leave for [[Constantinople]] in 1533.<ref name="Abun-Nasr 151">{{harvnb|Abun-Nasr|1987|p=160}}: "[In 1671] Ottoman Algeria became a military republic, ruled in the name of the Ottoman sultan by officers chosen by and in the interest of the Ujaq."</ref> The son of Barbarossa, [[Hasan Pasha (son of Barbarossa)|Hasan Pashan]] was in 1544 when his father retired, the first governor of the Regency to be directly appointed by the Ottoman Empire. He took the title of ''[[beylerbey]]''.<ref name="Abun-Nasr 151" /> Algiers became a base in the war against [[Spain]], and also in the [[Morocco–Turkey relations|Ottoman conflicts with Morocco]].

''Beylerbeys'' continued to be nominated for unlimited tenures until 1587. After Spain had sent an embassy to Constantinople in 1578 to negotiate a truce, leading to a formal peace in August 1580, the Regency of Algiers was a formal Ottoman territory, rather than just a military base in the war against Spain.<ref name="Abun-Nasr 151" /> At this time, the Ottoman Empire set up a regular Ottoman administration in Algiers and its dependencies, headed by ''[[Pasha]]s'', with 3-year terms to help considate Ottoman power in the Maghreb.

=== Mediterranean privateers ===
[[File:Purchase_of_Christian_captives_from_the_Barbary_States.jpg|thumb|Purchase of Christian slaves by French friars ([[Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy|Religieux de la Mercy de France]]) in Algiers in 1662]]
Despite the end of formal hostilities with Spain in 1580, attacks on Christian and especially Catholic shipping, with [[Barbary Slave Trade|slavery for the captured]], became prevalent in Algiers and were actually the main industry and source of revenues of the Regency.<ref name="Bosworth 24">{{cite book |last=Bosworth |first=Clifford Edmund |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UB4uSVt3ulUC&pg=PA24 |title=Historic cities of the Islamic world |date=30 January 2008 |publisher=Brill Academic Publishers |isbn=978-90-04-15388-2 |page=24 |access-date=24 October 2010}}</ref>

In the early 17th century, Algiers also became, along with other North African ports such as [[Tunis]], one of the bases for [[Anglo-Turkish piracy]]. There were as many as 8,000 [[wiktionary:renegade|renegades]] in the city in 1634.<ref name="Bosworth 24" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Tenenti |first=Alberto Tenenti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hAtpBrOdQlIC&pg=PA81 |title=Piracy and the Decline of Venice, 1580-1615 |publisher=University of California Press |year=1967 |page=81 |access-date=24 October 2010}}</ref> (Renegades were former Christians, sometimes fleeing the law, who voluntarily moved to Muslim territory and converted to [[Islam]].) [[Hayreddin Barbarossa]] is credited with tearing down the Peñón of Algiers and using the stone to build the inner harbor.<ref name="WDL">{{cite web |year=1899 |title=Moonlight View, with Lighthouse, Algiers, Algeria |url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/8759/ |access-date=2013-09-24 |website=[[World Digital Library]]}}</ref>

A contemporary letter states:

{{blockquote|"The infinity of goods, merchandise jewels and treasure taken by our English pirates daily from Christians and carried to [[Algiers|Algire]] and [[Tunis]] to the great enriching of Mores and Turks and impoverishing of Christians"|Contemporary letter sent from Portugal to England.<ref name="Harris">{{cite book |title=Sick Economies: Drama, mercantilism, and disease in Shakespeare's England |last=Harris |first=Jonathan Gil |page=152''ff''|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6oiCewSlFlQC&pg=PA225 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-8122-3773-3|access-date=24 October 2010}}</ref>}}

Privateers and slavery of Christians originating from Algiers were a major problem throughout the centuries, leading to regular punitive expeditions by European powers. Spain (1567, 1775, 1783), Denmark (1770), France (1661, 1665, 1682, 1683, 1688), England (1622, 1655, 1672), all led naval bombardments against Algiers.<ref name="Bosworth 24" /> [[Abraham Duquesne]] fought the [[Barbary pirates]] in 1681 and bombarded Algiers between 1682 and 1683, to help Christian captives.<ref>{{cite book |last=Martin |first=Henri |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_nW0PAAAAYAAJ |title=Martin's History of France |publisher=Walker, Wise & Co. |year=1864 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_nW0PAAAAYAAJ/page/n545 522] |access-date=24 October 2010}}</ref>

=== Political Turmoil (1659-1713) ===

==== The Agha period ====
In 1659 the Janissaries of the [[Odjak of Algiers]] took over the country, and removed the local Pasha with the blessing of the Ottoman Sultan. From there on a system of dual leaders was in place. There was first and foremost the Agha, elected by the Odjak, and the Pasha appointed by the Ottoman [[Sublime Porte]], whom was a major cause of unrest.<ref name="Tableu">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K9FBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA412 |title=Algeria: Tableau de la situation des établissements français dans l'Algérie en 1837-54. Journal des opérations de l'artillerie pendant l'expedition de Constantine, Oct. 1837. Tableau de la situation des établissements français dans l'Algérie précédé de l'exposé des motifs et du projet de loi, portant demande de crédits extraordinaires au titre de l'exercice |year=1842 |pages=412–}}</ref> Of course, this duality was not stable. All of the Aghas were assassinated, without an exception. Even the first Agha was killed after only 1 year of rule. Thanks to this the Pashas from Constantinople were able to increase the power, and reaffirm Turkish control over the region. In 1671, the Rais, the pirate captains, elected a new leader, [[Mohammed Trik|Mohamed Trik]]. The Janissaries also supported him, and started calling him the Dey, which means Uncle in Turkish.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dayı |url=https://nisanyansozluk.com/?k=day%C4%B1 |access-date=2021-02-11 |website=Nişanyan Sözlük}}</ref>

==== Early Dey period (1671-1710) ====
[[File:Duquesne_fait_liberer_des_captifs_chretiens_apres_le_bombardement_d_Alger_en_1683.jpg|thumb|Liberation of slaves after the Bombardment of Algiers (1683)]]
In the early Dey period the country worked similarly to before, with the Pasha still holding considerable powers, but instead of the Janissaries electing their own leaders freely, other factions such as the Taifa of Rais also wanted to elect the deys. Mohammed Trik, taking over during a time instability was faced with heavy issues. Not only were the Janissaries on a rampage, removing any leaders for even the smallest mistakes (even if those leaders were elected by them), but the native populace was also restless. The conflicts with European powers didn't help this either. In 1677, following an [[explosion]] in Algiers and several attempts at his life, Mohammed escaped to [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] leaving Algiers to [[Baba Hassan]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rARFAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA139 |title=Leaves from a Lady's Diary of Her Travels in Barbary |publisher=H. Colburn |year=1850 |pages=139–}}</ref> Just 4 years into his rule [[French-Algerian War 1681–88|he was already at war]] with one of the most powerful countries in Europe, the [[Kingdom of France]]. In 1682 France [[Bombardment of Algiers (1682)|bombarded Algiers for the first time]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eugène Sue |url=http://archive.org/details/bub_gb_FB-kNP6cfMkC |title=Histoire de la marine française XVIIe siècle Jean Bart |date=1836 |publisher=F. Bonnaire |others=Lyon Public Library |language=French}}</ref> The Bombardment was inconclusive, and the leader of the fleet [[Abraham Duquesne]] failed to secure the submission of Algiers. The next year, [[Bombardment of Algiers (1683)|Algiers was bombarded again]], this time liberating a few slaves. Before a peace treaty could be signed though, Baba Hassan was deposed and killed by a Rais called [[Mezzo Morto Hüseyin Pasha|Mezzo Morto Hüseyin]].<ref name="PlayfairPlayfair1884">{{cite book |author1=Robert Lambert Playfair |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FnYoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA142 |title=The Scourge of Christendom: Annals of British Relations with Algiers Prior to the French Conquest |author2=Sir Robert Lambert Playfair |publisher=Smith, Elder & Company |year=1884 |pages=142–}}</ref> Continuing the war against France [[Battle off Cherchell|he was defeated in a naval battle in 1685]], near [[Cherchell]], and at last a [[Bombardment of Algiers (1688)|French Bombardment in 1688]] brought an end to his reign, and the war. His successor, [[Hadj Chabane]] was elected by the Raïs. He defeated Morocco in the [[Battle of Moulouya]] and defeated [[Algerian-Tunisian war (1694)|Tunis as well]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Histoire générale de la Tunisie, tome 3 : Les Temps Modernes. |url=https://issuu.com/mistermed/docs/histoire_g__n__rale_de_la_tunisie_t |access-date=2021-02-11 |website=Issuu |language=en |archive-date=2022-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317131728/https://issuu.com/mistermed/docs/histoire_g__n__rale_de_la_tunisie_t |url-status=dead }}</ref> He went back to Algiers, but he was assassinated in 1695 by the Janissaries whom once again took over the country. From there on Algiers was in turmoil once again. Leaders were assassinated, despite not even ruling for a year, and the Pasha was still a cause of unrest. The only notable event during this time of unrest was the [[Reconquest of Oran and Mers el Kébir (1708)|recapture of Oran and Mers-el-Kébir]] from the Spanish.

==== Coup of Baba Ali Chaouche, and independence ====
[[Baba Ali Chaouche]], also written as Chaouch, took over the country, ending the rule of the Janissaries. The Pasha attempted to resist him, but instead he was sent home, and told to never come back, and if he did he will be executed. He also sent a letter to the Ottoman sultan declaring that Algiers will from then on act as an independent state, and will not be an Ottoman vassal, but an ally at best.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rWIJAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA2 |title=Biographie universelle, ancienne et moderne |date=1834 |language=fr}}</ref> The [[Sublime Porte]], enraged, tried to send another Pasha to Algiers, whom was then sent back to Constantinople by the Algerians. This marked the ''[[de facto]]'' independence of Algiers from the Ottoman Empire.{{sfn|Kaddache|2011|p=432}}

=== Danish–Algerian War ===
{{main|Danish–Algerian War}}

In the mid-1700s Dano-Norwegian trade in the Mediterranean expanded. In order to protect the lucrative business against piracy, [[Denmark–Norway]] had secured a peace deal with the states of [[Barbary Coast]]. It involved paying an annual tribute to the individual rulers and additionally to the States.

In 1766, Algiers had a new ruler, [[dey]] [[Baba Mohammed ben-Osman]]. He demanded that the annual payment made by Denmark-Norway should be increased, and he should receive new gifts. [[Denmark–Norway]] refused the demands. Shortly after, Algerian pirates hijacked three Dano-Norwegian ships and allowed the crew to be sold as slaves.

They threatened to bombard the Algerian capital if the Algerians did not agree to a new peace deal on Danish terms. Algiers was not intimidated by the fleet, the fleet was of 2 [[frigate]]s, 2 bomb galiot and 4 [[ship of the line]].

=== Algerian-Sharifian War ===
{{Main|Algerian-Sharifian conflicts}}

In the west, the Algerian-Cherifian conflicts shaped the western border of Algeria.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tayeb Chenntouf |date=1999 |title="La dynamique de la frontière au Maghreb", Des frontières en Afrique du xiie au xxe siècle |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/in/documentViewer.xhtml?v=2.1.196&id=p::usmarcdef_0000139816&file=/in/rest/annotationSVC/DownloadWatermarkedAttachment/attach_import_c35456f4-f4da-4b4a-b938-9d61f48fa689?_=139816fre.pdf&locale=fr&multi=true&ark=/ark:/48223/pf0000139816/PDF/139816fre.pdf#%5B%7B%22num%22:605,%22gen%22:0%7D,%7B%22name%22:%22XYZ%22%7D,-250,769,0%5D |access-date=2020-07-17 |website=unesdoc.unesco.org}}</ref>

There were numerous battles between the Regency of Algiers and the Sharifian Empires for example: the campaign of Tlemcen in 1551, the [[Campaign of Tlemcen (1557)|campaign of Tlemcen in 1557]], the Battle of Moulouya and the [[Battle of Chelif]]. The independent Kabyle Kingdoms also had some involvement, the Kingdom of Beni Abbes participated in the campaign of Tlemcen in 1551 and the Kingdom of Kuku provided Zwawa troops for the [[Capture of Fez (1576)|capture of Fez in 1576]] in which Abd al-Malik was installed as an Ottoman vassal ruler over the Saadi Dynasty.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=V7qpKqM2Ji8C&pg=PA408 The Cambridge History of Africa, Volume 3] - J. D. Fage: Pg 408</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=49rmZ7_kessC&pg=PA104 Pages 82 and 104, Death in Babylon: Alexander the Great and Iberian Empire in the Muslim Orient]</ref> The Kingdom of Kuku also participated in the [[Capture of Fez (1554)|capture of Fez in 1554]] in which Salih Rais defeated the Moroccan army and conquered Morocco up until Fez, adding these territories to the Ottoman crown and placing Ali Abu Hassun as the ruler and vassal to the Ottoman sultan.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=V7qpKqM2Ji8C&pg=PA406 The Cambridge History of Africa, Volume 3] - J. D. Fage: Pg 406</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=xBVIAAAAMAAJ&q=salah+reis+%22fez%22 Politica e diritto nelle interrelazioni di Solimano il Magnifico]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SjUMAQAAIAAJ&q=salah+reis+%221554%22 Mers el Kébir: la rade au destin tourmenté]</ref> In 1792 the Regency of Algiers managed to take possession of the Moroccan Rif and Oujda, which they then abandoned in 1795 for unknown reasons.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=WQFyAAAAMAAJ Morocco in the Reign of Mawlay Sulayman] - Mohamed El Mansour Middle East & North African Studies Press, 1990 - Morocco - 248 pages: Pg 104</ref>

=== Barbary Wars ===
[[File:Martinus_Schouman_-_Het_bombardement_van_Algiers.jpg|thumb|The [[Bombardment of Algiers (1816)|Bombardment of Algiers]] in 1816, by [[Martinus Schouman]]]]
During the early 19th century, Algiers again resorted to widespread [[piracy]] against shipping from Europe and the young [[United States of America]], mainly due to internal fiscal difficulties, and the damage caused by the [[Napoleonic Wars]].<ref name="Bosworth 24" /> This in turn led to the [[First Barbary War]] and [[Second Barbary War]], which culminated in August 1816 when [[Lord Exmouth]] executed a naval [[Bombardment of Algiers (1816)|bombardment of Algiers]], the biggest, and most successful one.<ref>Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 199</ref> The Barbary Wars resulted in a major victory for the American, British, and Dutch Navy.

=== Political status ===

==== 1516-1567 ====
In between 1516 and 1567, the rulers of the Regency were chosen by the Ottoman sultan. During the first few decades, Algiers was completely aligned with the Ottoman Empire, although it later gained a certain level of autonomy as it was the westernmost province of the Ottoman Empire, and administering it directly would have been problematic.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MrlXAAAAcAAJ&q=algerine+independency+1567+haffan++again+recalled&pg=PA22 |title=A Short Account of Algiers, and of its several wars ... With a concise view of the origin of the rupture between Algiers and the United States ... Second edition, improved. [With a map.] |date=1794 |publisher=Mathew Carey |language=en}}</ref>

==== 1567-1710 ====
During this period a form of dual leadership was in place, with the Aghas sharing power and influence with a Pasha appointed by the Ottoman sultan from Constantinople.<ref name="Tableu3">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K9FBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA412 |title=Algeria: Tableau de la situation des établissements français dans l'Algérie en 1837-54. Journal des opérations de l'artillerie pendant l'expedition de Constantine, Oct. 1837. Tableau de la situation des établissements français dans l'Algérie précédé de l'exposé des motifs et du projet de loi, portant demande de crédits extraordinaires au titre de l'exercice |year=1842 |pages=412–}}</ref> After 1567, the Deys became the main leaders of the country, although the Pashas still retained some power.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lane-Poole |first1=Stanley |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0-ApAAAAYAAJ&q=dey+pasha&pg=PA262 |title=The Story of the Barbary Corsairs |last2=Kelley |first2=James Douglas Jerrold |date=1890 |publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons |isbn=978-0-8482-4873-4 |language=en}}</ref>

==== 1710-1830 ====
After a coup by [[Baba Ali Chaouch]], the political situation of Algiers became complicated.

==== Relation with the Ottoman Empire ====
Some sources describe it as completely independent from the Ottomans,<ref name="American Historia12">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D6gOAQAAMAAJ&q=Algiers+independence+1710&pg=PA23 |title=General Index to Papers and Annual Reports of the American Historical Association, 1884-1914 |date=1918 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |language=en}}</ref><ref name="American Historia22">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gO0_AAAAYAAJ&q=Algiers+independence+1710 |title=Annual Report of the American Historical Association |date=1918 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hutt |first=Graham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HxGQDwAAQBAJ&q=Algiers+independence+1710+influence&pg=PA114 |title=North Africa |year=2019 |publisher=Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson Ltd |isbn=978-1-84623-883-3 |language=en}}</ref> albeit the state was still nominally part of the Ottoman Empire.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tF7DFV11ZA4C&q=algiers+nominally+ottoman&pg=PA508 |title=Colburn's United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal |date=1857 |publisher=Henry Colburn |language=en}}</ref>

[[Cur Abdy]], dey of Algiers shouted at an Ottoman envoy for claiming that the Ottoman Padishah was the king of Algiers ("King of Algiers? King of Algiers? If he is the King of Algiers then who am I?").<ref>{{Cite book |last=Grammont |first=H. D. de |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wgJwFYP7uLIC&dq=Dey+roi+d%27alger+que+suis-je+donc&pg=PA283 |title=Histoire d'Alger sous la domination turque (1515-1830) |date=1887 |publisher=E. Leroux |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gheziel |first=Abla |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OxJxDwAAQBAJ&dq=Dey+roi+d%27alger+que+suis-je+donc&pg=PA33 |title=L'éveil politique de la société algérienne: Révoltes, soumission, assimilation et nationalisme - 1830-1936 |date=2018-09-25 |publisher=Editions L'Harmattan |isbn=978-2-14-010074-1 |language=fr}}</ref>

Despite the Ottomans having no influence in Algiers, and the Algerians often ignoring orders from the Ottoman sultan, such as in 1784.<ref name="rel3"/> In some cases Algiers also participated in the Ottoman Empire's wars, such as the [[Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792)]],<ref name="Anderson-1952">{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=R. C. |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015005292860 |title=Naval wars in the Levant, 1559-1853 |date=1952 |publisher=Princeton |hdl=2027/mdp.39015005292860}}</ref> albeit this was not common, and in 1798 for example Algiers sold wheat to the [[First French Empire|French Empire]] [[French campaign in Egypt and Syria|campaigning in Egypt]] against the Ottomans through two Jewish traders.

In some cases, Algiers was declared to be a country rebelling against the holy law of Islam by the Ottoman Caliph.<ref name="UPMEC-1977">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4-ptAAAAMAAJ&q=%22abdi%22+fetva+rebel+against+algiers |title=Studies in Eighteenth Century Islamic History |date=1977 |publisher=Southern Illinois University Press |isbn=978-0-8093-0819-4 |language=en}}</ref> This usually meant a declaration of war by the Ottomans against the Deylik of Algiers.<ref name="UPMEC-1977" /> This could happen due to many reasons. For example, under the rule of [[Haji Ali (Dey of Algiers)|Haji Ali Dey]], Algerian pirates regularly attacked Ottoman shipments, and Algiers waged war against the Beylik of Tunis,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Panzac |first=Daniel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_dyeFP5Hyc4C&q=algiers+1811+tunis+hamidou&pg=PA65 |title=The Barbary Corsairs: The End of a Legend, 1800-1820 |date=2005 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-12594-0 |language=en}}</ref> despite several protests by the Ottoman Porte, which resulted in a declaration of war.

It can be thus said that the relationship between the Ottoman Empire and Algiers mainly depended on what the Dey at the time wanted. While in some cases, if the relationship between the two was favorable, Algiers did participate in Ottoman wars,<ref name="Anderson-1952" /> Algiers otherwise remained completely autonomous from the rest of the Empire similar to the other Barbary States.