Battle of al-Kawiya

Last updated
Battle of al-Kawiya
Part of Conflicts between the Regency of Algiers and Morocco
17 century Regency of Algiers.png
Map depicting the Regency of Algiers in the 17th century [1]
DateSeptember, 1700
Location
al-Kawiya, near the Chelif river
Result Algerian victory
Belligerents
Flag of Morocco (1666-1915).svg Alawi Sultanate Flag of Regency of Algiers.svg Regency of Algiers
Commanders and leaders
Mansur ibn al-Rami  †
Abdullah ibn Ahmidah  † 		Hadj Moustapha
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
12,000 killed [2]
Large number of Alawi commanders killed [3] 		Unknown

The Battle of al-Kawiya was a military conflict between the Alawi Sultanate and the Regency of Algiers in September, 1700. [4] The Moroccans suffered a defeat and heavy casualties including a large number of commanders. [5] [6]

Contents

Background

Map depicting the Algerian-Alawi frontier Alawi-Algerian Frontier Zone.jpg
Map depicting the Algerian-Alawi frontier

Constant raids and offensives into Algerian territory ultimately led to a number of military engagements between the Alawi forces and the Algerians. [4] After a victory in the Battle of Moulouya a treaty was concluded fixing the boundary between the two states at the Moulouya river. [7] Despite this agreement, the Moroccan forces continued their raids into Algerian territory resulting in an engagement and defeat in 1694 and another in 1696 in the Battle of Tlemcen. [8] [9] [10] The Moroccans concluded an alliance with the Tunisians against the Algerians and thereon continued their raids.

Battle

Ibn al-Rami, the Alawi commander and leader of the raiding forces, led an expedition into Algerian territory. [11] According to al-Rifi, the Moroccan forces reached al-Kawiya and remained there for nine months consuming the crops and plundering wealth until a great battle took place resulting in the death of a large number of Moroccan commanders. [2] [3] Ibn al-Rami was surprised by the Algerian battalion and defeated by them in September 1700. [12] A night long artillery bombardment followed by a sweeping attack in the morning was employed resulting in the defection of the Arab tribes allied to the Alawites and a decisive victory with 12,000 killed as well as a large number of Moroccan commanders. [2] [3] [13] The commanders ibn al-Rami and ibn-Ahmidah were both killed in battle, although another account mentions that al-Rami deserted to the Algerians following his defeat. [3] [12]

Aftermath

The Moroccans continued their offensives into Algerian territory. An attempt to seize Oran resulted in a battle in 1701 where Moulay Ismail was defeated near Arzew. Oran was attacked once more in 1707, this time an engagement occurred at Zebouja where Moulay Ismail suffered a heavy defeat. [14]

References

  1. ↑ Chaïbi, Karim (2022). Atlas historique de l'Algérie. France: Nouveau Monde éditions. ISBN   9782380941180.
  2. 1 2 3 Ben-Komour 2016, p. 202.
  3. 1 2 3 4 al-Rīfī 1992, p. 59.
  4. 1 2 Mercer, P. A. (1974). Political and military developments within Morocco during the early Alawi Period (1659-1727) (PhD thesis). SOAS University of London. doi:10.25501/SOAS.00029688. who were left to the ultimate authority of Mas°üd ibn al-Rami. In the September of 1700, while on a minor tax-raid, this general was surprised and defeated by the Algerine battalion of the march. He was perhaps mindful of the fate of Ali, the prince whom he had conducted back to Meknes the previous year, and also of the fine which he himself had recently paid; for he deserted immediately to the Algerines
  5. ↑ Mizyān, Aḥmad (2007). المجتمع والسلطة المخزنية في الجنوب الشرقي المغربي خلال القرن التاسع عشر، 1845-1912. وزارة الأوقاف والشؤون الإسلامية. p. 228. العربي المشرفي الحلل البهية قتل في هذه السنة أشهر قواده في المنطقة الشرقية الباشا منصور الرامي والقائد عبد الله بن أحميدة
  6. ↑ Rīfī, ʻAbd al-Karīm ibn Mūsá; Binʻaddādah, Āsiyah (1992). زهر الأكم: مساهمة في تاريخ الدولة العلوية من النشأة إلى عهد مولي عبد الله بن المولي إسماعيل. Morocco: مكتبة الصور الجميلة. وقعة القويعة ومقتل عدد كبير من قواد مولاي إسماعيل
  7. ↑ Galibert, Léon (1854). L'Algérie, ancienne et moderne depuis les premiers établissements des Carthaginois jusqu'à l'expedition du général Randon en 1853. France: Furne. pp. 233–234.
  8. ↑ Cigar, Norman (2024). "A Letter from Mūlāy Ismāʿīl to Sultan Aḥmed III: An Episode in Moroccan-Algerian-Ottoman Relations" (PDF). Hespéris-Tamuda. 59 (1): 251. In a subsequent campaign in 1695-96, a Moroccan expeditionary force commanded by Mulãy Ismaʿil's son Ahmad was soundly defeated by the Algerians.
  9. ↑ Mercer 1974, p. 207.
  10. ↑ الشيخ, عدة (2021). "نشأة الصراع العثماني المغريبي ودور الجزائر في نسج معالم العلاقات بينهما". مجلة قضايا تاريخية (14): 28. «وبعد هذه الأحداث أرسل إسماعيل إلى الجزائر وفد مكون من ابنه عبد المالك والمرابطي طيب بن محمد الفاسي لعقد الصلح وتم له ذلك، ولكنه كان في نفس الوقت منزعجاً من الهزيمة التي لحقت به ففي 9 ربيع الأول سنة 1106هـ الموافق لـ29 أكتوبر 1694م»
  11. ↑ Mercer 1974, p. 233.
  12. 1 2 Mercer 1974, p. 234.
  13. ↑ Sabrine 2017.
  14. ↑ العيايدة, أمنة فاطمة زهرة; بوحمشوش, نعيمة (2024). "المشروع الجهادي لبايات بايلك الغرب في تحرير وهران: الباي مصطفى بوشلاغم أنموذجا". مجلة البحوث التاريخية. 8 (1): 343–359.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.