The Battle of Taghit was the siege of a fort held by a contingent of the French Army of Africa against Moroccan tribesmen during the South-Oranese Campaign.
In the 1890s, the French administration and military called for the annexation of the Touat, the Gourara and the Tidikelt,[3] a complex that had been controlled by tribes under the domination the Moroccan Empire for many centuries prior to the arrival of the French in Algeria.[4]
An armed conflict opposed French 19th Corps Oran and Algiers divisions to the Aït Khabbash, a fraction of the Moroccan Aït Ounbgui khams of the Aït Atta confederation. The conflict ended with the annexation of the Touat-Gourara-Tidikelt complex by France in 1901.[5]
In the aftermath, France faced numerous incidents, attacks and looting by uncontrolled armed groups in the newly controlled areas to the south of Oran.[6] Under the command of General Lyautey, the French army's mission was to protect these areas newly occupied in the west of Algeria, near the poorly defined Moroccan boundaries.[6] This loose boundary, between French Algeria and the Sultanate of Morocco, promoted incursions and attacks by tribesmen.[6]
France also sought to expand their territories westwards towards Bechar, and these attacks gave them a casus belli to do so. In turn several tribes around the region decided to form a pan-tribal alliance called "Harka", led by a man called Ba Sidi, and a member of the Alaouite dynasty called Mouley Mustapha, who sought to gain prestige out of this attack.[1]
The battleedit
The tribal coalition, armed mainly with breech-loading and muzzleloading guns, composed of 4,000 warriors,[7] and 5,000 camp followers arrived at Taghit on 17 August. For four days they besieged the outpost and its French troop, but the fierce defense of the garrison and the several sorties ordered by Captain de Susbielle weakened the tribesmen. Finally on 20 August reinforcements arrived,[8] which, along with other factors, forced the tribal coalition to disperse and flee into the desert.[9]
60 Horsemen of the makhzen of Taghit led by Lieutenant de Ganay
60 Horsemen of the makhzen of Béni-Abbés led by Lieutenant de Lachaux
Aftermathedit
A few days after the battle of Taghit, 148 legionnaires of the 22nd mounted company, from the 2e REI, commanded by Captain Vauchez and Lieutenant Selchauhansen, 20 Spahis and 2 Mokhaznis, forming part of escorting a supply convoy, were ambushed, on September 2, by 3,000 Moroccans tribesmen, at El-Moungar.[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcVarious (9 July 2021). Routledge Library Editions: World Empires. Taylor & Francis. pp. 4–. ISBN978-1-351-00225-7.
^Jean François Six (1965). Witness in the Desert: The Life of Charles de Foucauld. Macmillan.
^Trout, Frank E. (1970). "Morocco's Boundary in the Guir-Zousfana River Basin". African Historical Studies. 3 (1): 37–56. doi:10.2307/216479. JSTOR 216479. The Algerian-Moroccan conflict can be said to have begun in the 1890s when the administration and military in Algeria called for annexation of the Touat-Gourara-Tidikelt, a sizable expanse of Saharan oases that was nominally a part of the Moroccan Empire (...) The Touat-Gourara-Tidikelt oases had been an appendage of the Moroccan Empire, jutting southeast for about 750 kilometers into the Saharan desert
^Trout, Frank E. (1969). Morocco's Saharan Frontiers. Droz. p. 24. ISBN9782600044950. The Gourara-Touat-Tidikelt complex had been under Moroccan domination for many centuries prior to the arrival of the French in Algeria
^Lefébure, Claude (1986). "Ayt Khebbach, impasse sud-est. L'involution d'une tribu marocaine exclue du Sahara". Revue de l'Occident musulman et de la Méditerranée. 41–42: 136–57. doi:10.3406/remmm.1986.2114. Les Divisions d'Oran et d'Alger du 19e Corps d'armée n'ont pu conquérir le Touat et le Gourara qu'au prix de durs combats menés contre les semi-nomades d'obédience marocaine qui, depuis plus d'un siècle, imposaient leur protection aux oasiens.
^ abcd"Historique de la bataille d'El Moungar". French Ministry of Defence.
^Hart, Ursula Kingsmill (1987). Two Ladies of Colonial Algeria: The Lives and Times of Aurélie Picard and Isabelle Eberhardt. Ohio University Center for International Studies. ISBN978-0-89680-143-1.
battle, taghit, siege, fort, held, contingent, french, army, africa, against, moroccan, tribesmen, during, south, oranese, campaign, part, south, oranese, campaignmonument, french, foreign, légionnaires, died, during, south, oranese, campaigndate17, august, 19. The Battle of Taghit was the siege of a fort held by a contingent of the French Army of Africa against Moroccan tribesmen during the South Oranese Campaign Battle of TaghitPart of South Oranese CampaignMonument to the French Foreign Legionnaires who died during the South Oranese campaignDate17 20 August 1903LocationTaghit Algerian Moroccan borderResultFrench victoryBelligerentsFranceHarka tribal coalition 1 Various Moroccan volunteersCommanders and leadersCaptain de SusbielleMouley MustaphaBa SidiStrength4709 000 2 4 000 warriors 5 000 non combattantsCasualties and losses9 dead 21 woundedclose to 200 1 Contents 1 Background 2 The battle 2 1 French units involved 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 BibliographyBackground editIn the 1890s the French administration and military called for the annexation of the Touat the Gourara and the Tidikelt 3 a complex that had been controlled by tribes under the domination the Moroccan Empire for many centuries prior to the arrival of the French in Algeria 4 An armed conflict opposed French 19th Corps Oran and Algiers divisions to the Ait Khabbash a fraction of the Moroccan Ait Ounbgui khams of the Ait Atta confederation The conflict ended with the annexation of the Touat Gourara Tidikelt complex by France in 1901 5 In the aftermath France faced numerous incidents attacks and looting by uncontrolled armed groups in the newly controlled areas to the south of Oran 6 Under the command of General Lyautey the French army s mission was to protect these areas newly occupied in the west of Algeria near the poorly defined Moroccan boundaries 6 This loose boundary between French Algeria and the Sultanate of Morocco promoted incursions and attacks by tribesmen 6 France also sought to expand their territories westwards towards Bechar and these attacks gave them a casus belli to do so In turn several tribes around the region decided to form a pan tribal alliance called Harka led by a man called Ba Sidi and a member of the Alaouite dynasty called Mouley Mustapha who sought to gain prestige out of this attack 1 The battle editThe tribal coalition armed mainly with breech loading and muzzleloading guns composed of 4 000 warriors 7 and 5 000 camp followers arrived at Taghit on 17 August For four days they besieged the outpost and its French troop but the fierce defense of the garrison and the several sorties ordered by Captain de Susbielle weakened the tribesmen Finally on 20 August reinforcements arrived 8 which along with other factors forced the tribal coalition to disperse and flee into the desert 9 French units involved edit 7th Company of the 2nd Regiment of Algerian Tirailleurs led by Captain Guibert A Platoon of the Battalions of Light Infantry of Africa led by Captain Mariande A Platoon of the 22nd Mounted Company of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment led by Lieutenant Pointurier 60 Horsemen of the makhzen of Taghit led by Lieutenant de Ganay 60 Horsemen of the makhzen of Beni Abbes led by Lieutenant de LachauxAftermath editA few days after the battle of Taghit 148 legionnaires of the 22nd mounted company from the 2e REI commanded by Captain Vauchez and Lieutenant Selchauhansen 20 Spahis and 2 Mokhaznis forming part of escorting a supply convoy were ambushed on September 2 by 3 000 Moroccans tribesmen at El Moungar 6 References edit a b c Various 9 July 2021 Routledge Library Editions World Empires Taylor amp Francis pp 4 ISBN 978 1 351 00225 7 Jean Francois Six 1965 Witness in the Desert The Life of Charles de Foucauld Macmillan Trout Frank E 1970 Morocco s Boundary in the Guir Zousfana River Basin African Historical Studies 3 1 37 56 doi 10 2307 216479 JSTOR 216479 The Algerian Moroccan conflict can be said to have begun in the 1890s when the administration and military in Algeria called for annexation of the Touat Gourara Tidikelt a sizable expanse of Saharan oases that was nominally a part of the Moroccan Empire The Touat Gourara Tidikelt oases had been an appendage of the Moroccan Empire jutting southeast for about 750 kilometers into the Saharan desert Trout Frank E 1969 Morocco s Saharan Frontiers Droz p 24 ISBN 9782600044950 The Gourara Touat Tidikelt complex had been under Moroccan domination for many centuries prior to the arrival of the French in Algeria Lefebure Claude 1986 Ayt Khebbach impasse sud est L involution d une tribu marocaine exclue du Sahara Revue de l Occident musulman et de la Mediterranee 41 42 136 57 doi 10 3406 remmm 1986 2114 Les Divisions d Oran et d Alger du 19e Corps d armee n ont pu conquerir le Touat et le Gourara qu au prix de durs combats menes contre les semi nomades d obedience marocaine qui depuis plus d un siecle imposaient leur protection aux oasiens a b c d Historique de la bataille d El Moungar French Ministry of Defence Hart Ursula Kingsmill 1987 Two Ladies of Colonial Algeria The Lives and Times of Aurelie Picard and Isabelle Eberhardt Ohio University Center for International Studies ISBN 978 0 89680 143 1 Tiltman Marjorie Hessell 1968 God s adventures Books for Libraries Press ISBN 9780836909456 Montagnon Pierre 15 December 2012 Histoire de la Legion de 1831 a nos jours Pygmalion ISBN 9782756409016 Bibliography editMahuault Jean Paul 2005 L epopee marocaine de la Legion etrangere 1903 1934 ou Trente annees au Maroc L Harmattan ISBN 9782747580571 35 26 00 N 4 03 00 E 35 433333 N 4 05 E 35 433333 4 05 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Taghit amp oldid 1208452444, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
