Capture of Mascara (1831)

Capture of Mascara
	Part of French conquest of Algeria
Date	1831
Location	Mascara, Algeria
Result	Kaderian victory
Belligerents
Mascara Garrison	Emirate of Abdelkader; Support:; Tribes of Makhzen Saharaouia; Bordjia tribe
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Emir Abdelkader; Mahieddine Abu Abdelkader
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Heavy	Unknown

The Capture of Mascara in 1831 was a conflict that happened during the establishment of the Abdelkader state following the collapse of the Regency of Algiers.

Battle

Mahieddine, Abdelkader's father, led the uprising. He was determined to fight the remaining Algerian garrisons. Abdelkader and Mahieddine attacked Mascara. Abdelkader distinguished himself in battle, appearing to be "safe from bullets and cannonballs, with horses killed beneath him".^[1] He received assistance from the Sahrawi Makhzen tribes, who besieged the city, along with the Bordjia from the Mascara region. The plundered the city, and the entire garrison was massacred,^[2] possibly after its surrender. The garrison fought to the end.^[3]

Aftermath

Encouraged by this expedition, Abdelkader then headed towards Oran to dislodge the French forces.^[1] The following year, Abdelkader was recognized as a sultan and received the allegiance or "moubayaa" of the allied tribes in the Grand Mosque of Mascara.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b L'Emir face à la soldatesque coloniale (in French). Editions Publibook. ISBN 978-2-7483-4997-9.
^ Benabdellah, Saïd (2007). Une époque et ses paradoxes: de l'aurore au crépuscule (in French). Ed. Dar el Gharb. ISBN 978-9961-54-724-3.
^ Emerit, Marcel (2002-02-09). L'Algérie à l'époque d'Abd-el-Kader (in French). Editions Bouchène. ISBN 978-2-35676-087-6.
^ Toperich, Sasha; Boukaila, Samy; Roberts, Jonathan (2019-01-29). Algeria and Transatlantic Relations. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 978-0-9600127-0-1.

[:0-1] L'Emir face à la soldatesque coloniale (in French). Editions Publibook. ISBN 978-2-7483-4997-9.

[2] Benabdellah, Saïd (2007). Une époque et ses paradoxes: de l'aurore au crépuscule (in French). Ed. Dar el Gharb. ISBN 978-9961-54-724-3.

[3] Emerit, Marcel (2002-02-09). L'Algérie à l'époque d'Abd-el-Kader (in French). Editions Bouchène. ISBN 978-2-35676-087-6.

[4] Toperich, Sasha; Boukaila, Samy; Roberts, Jonathan (2019-01-29). Algeria and Transatlantic Relations. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 978-0-9600127-0-1.

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