Battle of Djebel Amour

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Battle of Djebel Amour
Part of Conflicts between the Regency of Algiers and Morocco
Date1679
Location
Djebel Amour
Result Algerian victory [1] [2] [3]
Belligerents
Flag of Regency of Algiers.svg Regency of Algiers Flag of Morocco (1666-1915).svg Alawi Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Flag of Regency of Algiers.svg Hadj Ahmed Chabane Flag of Morocco (1666-1915).svg Ismail Ibn Sharif
Strength
Unknown Unknown, but large [4]
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Battle of Djebel Amour occurred in 1679 when Moulay Ismail of Morocco led an unsuccessful campaign in the area of Djebel Amour. [3] His forces were no match for the Algerians and he was defeated at the Chelif river, near its source after his camp was attacked and bombarded with artillery which caused his men to panic and flee. [1] [5]

Contents

Background

Moulay Ismail organised a large expedition, gathering a considerable amount of regular troops, infantrymen and horsemen provided by the Arab tribes of Morocco. [4] He advanced towards the upper regions of the Moulouya and gathered contingents from various tribes, reinforcing his army and progressed along the Saharan roads towards Djebel Amour. [6]

Battle

A column, either from Mascara or Algiers, had followed his movements and positioned themselves at the right bank of the Moulouya river. [6] These movements were intended to block his passage at a place called Gouïaa. [6] The Moroccans were preparing for battle, making preparations to cross the Chelif, however they were defeated at the Chelif river when at night a grand battle took place and the Algerians bombarded the Moroccan camp with artillery. [3] [2] [1] [6] This attack caused terror and panic in the Moroccan camp, putting the Arab auxiliaries to flight and driving them out of the area. [7] [5]

Aftermath

Following the bombardment, Moulay Ismail made peace with the Algerians and renewed the treaty that had been agreed with Moulay Rashid with the respective boundaries at the Tafna river. [6] It is likely that Moulay Ismail considered himself lucky to get off lightly. [4] As the failure of the expedition was mainly caused by the defection of the Arabs, Moulay Ismail swore to never rely on them again and to make them pay for their treachery. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Alazard, Jean. Initiation à l'Algérie. France: Adrien-Maisonneuve, 1957. p.104.“1679 jusqu'au Djebel Amour , pour se faire battre dans la vallée du Chélif”
  2. 1 2 Enay, Marc-Edouard., Kusserow, Mourad., Celerier, Jean. Le Maroc en scripophilie. Switzerland: Verlag im Orient-Antiquariat, 2004. p.41.”1679 : Après avoir pénétré jusqu'au Djebel Amour , Moulay Ismail est battu sur le Chélif”
  3. 1 2 3 Coissac de Chavrebière, Jean-Baptiste. Histoire du Maroc. N.p.: (Payot & Rivages) réédition numérique FeniXX, 1931. p.393.“1679 , Moulay Ismaïl entreprit sans succès une campagne dans le djebel Amour ; les Turcs le battirent sur la Moulouya”
  4. 1 2 3 Péchot, L.. Histoire de l'Afrique du Nord avant 1830: précédée de la géographie physique et politique de la Tunisie, de l'Algérie et du Maroc. Algeria: Gojosso, 1914. p.245.
  5. 1 2 Julien, Charles André. History of North Africa: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco: From the Arab Conquest to 1830. United States: Praeger, 1970. p.253.“in the east the sharif had to be content with less success, for the black army was no match for the Algerian forces. The sultan was well aware that the Turks were encouraging revolts in the Maghrib. In 1679 , in order to intimidate them , he pushed as far as the Djebel Amour , but Turkish artillery put the Arab auxiliaries to flight”
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mercier, Ernest. Histoire de l'Afrique septentrionale (Berbérie) depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu'à la conquête française (1930). France: Ernest Leroux, 1891. p.289-290.
  7. ↑ Chitour, Chems-Eddine. Algérie: le passé revisité. Algeria: Casbah Editions, 1998. p.239.
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