The first Médéa expedition, also known as the Atlas expedition of 1830 was a military expedition conducted by the Kingdom of France against the remnants of the Deylik of Algiers, the Beylik of Titteri and the local resistance led by Mohamed ben Zaamoum. It began on 17 November 1830 and ended eight in early December.
In 1830, France invaded the capital of the Deylik of Algiers, and captured the city on July 5.[4] Following the capitulation of Hussein Dey, the French sent letters to the three main regional governors of the Beylik of Oran, Titteri, and Constantine. Mustapha Boumezrag, bey of Titteri, and Ahmed ben Mohamed Chérif, bey of Constantine refused to do so, and thus were soon declared dethroned by the French government in Algiers.[5] Furthermore Mustapha Boumezrag, along with his ally of necessity, Mohamed ben Zamoum a Kabyle ex-officer of the Deylik[6] declared as leader of Jihad by the local Arab and Berber tribes of Blida and its surroundings[7] were waging war on the French in Algiers.
In response to this de Bourmont, governor of French Algiers decided to send an expedition to defeat ben Zaamoum and the tribes loyal to him. Attacking the city of Blida on the 22nd of July, he was soon forced to turn back and the battle ended in an Algerian victory, the first of its kind since the French landed in Algiers. After the failure of France in the First Battle of Blida against the forces of Mohamed, de Bourmont was relieved of his duties and General Bertrand Clausel was appointed as the governor of Algiers in August.[8] He soon started preparing for a major campaign against the Beylik of Titteri and the local tribes and he prepared more than 8,000 men for this goal.[9] The expedition was launched on 17 November.
The campaign
Initial capture of Blida
The inhabitants of Blida refused to allow the French army into the city and a fierce battle broke out which left an unknown amount of killed or wounded. The French army burned the orchards surrounding the city and the inhabitants were forced to flee into the mountains. Before his departure from Blida, General Bertrand Clausel left a French garrison under the command of Colonel Roulhières and headed towards Médéa.[10]
Battle of Mouzaïa
Boumezrag awaited the French troops with about 6,000 men of his own in the Mouzaïa pass. 1,500 Algerian troops were situated on the eastern and western side of the pass. The rest of the troops of the Bey of Tittery were echeloned in the gorge, in front of the main position, occupying the points most favorable to the defense of the pass and some troops, composed of Arab and Berber tribal cavalry were situated near the rear of the French troops.[9]
These defensive positions could only be attacked from the front and from the left, the depth of the cliff which bordered the right of the road not allowing troops to pass on that side.
On November 25,[11] a column composed of 14th, 20th and 28th French line infantry regiments climbed the heights to the east and took the troops of the Bey of Titteri from the rear by surprise.
Several French companies soon engaged in a heavy battle with the troops of the Bey. After a short but lively fight, the position was taken by the French units, and the Algerians, astonished at the vigor of the attack, fled the field. At the end of the day, the French flag flew over the pass. During this fight, the second lieutenant of the 20th regiment, Patrice de Mac Mahon was particularly distinguished.[9][12]
Fall of Médéa, capitulation of Boumezrag
While advancing towards Médéa, the French had to repel several minor attacks and skirmishes against them before a poorly dressed man from the city gave the general a letter of submission. Boumezrag fled the city with his family and went into hiding in Kabylia before capitulating to the French a few days later.[13] A new bey would be installed instead of him called Mustapha ben Omar.
Ben Zaamoum's counter-attack
Despite the initial success, a French contingent was ambushed near Mouzaïa by tribes loyal the Ben Zaamoum, and 27 French soldiers were killed. Before General Clausel returned from Médéa, the Algerians managed to eliminate a French contingent of 100 soldiers near Boufarik on 25 November 1830. Finally on the 26th of November, a large Algerian army commanded by Ben Zaamoum stormed Blida and took over several quarters of the city. After heavy fighting between the armies, the French soon decided to withdraw from the city as according to Clausel the city was not worth the risk.
^Histoire de l'armée et de tous les régiments, depuis les premiers temps de monarchie français jusqu'a nos jours (History of the Army and of All Regiments from Earliest Times to our Day) (read online)
^L'Algerois rural à la fin de l'époque ottomane (1791-1830) (read online)
^l'histoire de Blida (The Story of Blida) extrait de "aux échos d'Alger (from "Echos of Algiers"), numéro 45 (read online)
^Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (2007-01-01). Historic Cities of the Islamic World. BRILL. ISBN978-90-04-15388-2.
^Toprak, Binnaz (1981-01-01). Islam and Political Development in Turkey. BRILL. ISBN978-90-04-06471-3.
^Karim, Labeche Ahmed (2016-05-30). Côte ouest d'Alger (in French). LABECHE. ISBN978-9947-0-4621-0.
^. 2016-11-28. Archived from the original on 2016-11-28. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
^ abcPellion, Pierre (1875). Histoire du maréchal de Mac-Mahon, président de la république française (in French). Rossel.
^Joseph et Caroline ou le berger de la Sologne. Histoire veritable. Par Joseph R**y, officier de la légion des Ardennes. Avec figures. ... Premiere [-deuxieme] partie (in French). 1799.
^GALIBERT, Léon (1844). L'Algérie ancienne et moderne, etc. Vignettes par Raffet et Rouargue frères (in French).
^Bitard, Adolphe (1880). Dictionnaire de biographie contemporaine française et étrangère: contenant les noms, prénoms, pseudonymes de tous les personnages célèbres du temps présent, l'histoire de leur vie, de leurs actes et de leurs oeuvres, la date de leur naissance et des principaux évènements de leur carrière, etc., augmenté d'un supplément (in French). L. Vanier.
^Lagardette, Reynaud Jules Antoine Edmond de. Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Oxford University Press. 2011-10-31. doi:10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.b00102984.
This article about a battle in French history is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
médéa, expedition, 1830, first, médéa, expedition, also, known, atlas, expedition, 1830, military, expedition, conducted, kingdom, france, against, remnants, deylik, algiers, beylik, titteri, local, resistance, mohamed, zaamoum, began, november, 1830, ended, e. The first Medea expedition also known as the Atlas expedition of 1830 was a military expedition conducted by the Kingdom of France against the remnants of the Deylik of Algiers the Beylik of Titteri and the local resistance led by Mohamed ben Zaamoum It began on 17 November 1830 and ended eight in early December Atlas expedition of 1830Part of the French conquest of AlgeriaDate17 November December 1830 1 LocationBlida and Medea Algeria 2 ResultFrench victory at Medea Collapse of the Beylik of TitteriAlgerian victory at Blida French forced to retreat after Ben Zamoum counter attacksBelligerents Kingdom of FranceBeylik of TitteriBen Zaamoun resistanceCommanders and leadersBertrand Clausel Francois BoyerBoumezrag Bey Ben ZaamoumStrength8 000 soldiers 3 Boumezrag s forces 6 000 menBen Zaamoum s forces UnknownCasualties and lossesUnknown 127 killed in Ben Zaamoum s counter attackUnknown Contents 1 Background 2 The campaign 2 1 Initial capture of Blida 2 2 Battle of Mouzaia 2 3 Fall of Medea capitulation of Boumezrag 2 4 Ben Zaamoum s counter attack 3 See also 4 ReferencesBackground EditIn 1830 France invaded the capital of the Deylik of Algiers and captured the city on July 5 4 Following the capitulation of Hussein Dey the French sent letters to the three main regional governors of the Beylik of Oran Titteri and Constantine Mustapha Boumezrag bey of Titteri and Ahmed ben Mohamed Cherif bey of Constantine refused to do so and thus were soon declared dethroned by the French government in Algiers 5 Furthermore Mustapha Boumezrag along with his ally of necessity Mohamed ben Zamoum a Kabyle ex officer of the Deylik 6 declared as leader of Jihad by the local Arab and Berber tribes of Blida and its surroundings 7 were waging war on the French in Algiers In response to this de Bourmont governor of French Algiers decided to send an expedition to defeat ben Zaamoum and the tribes loyal to him Attacking the city of Blida on the 22nd of July he was soon forced to turn back and the battle ended in an Algerian victory the first of its kind since the French landed in Algiers After the failure of France in the First Battle of Blida against the forces of Mohamed de Bourmont was relieved of his duties and General Bertrand Clausel was appointed as the governor of Algiers in August 8 He soon started preparing for a major campaign against the Beylik of Titteri and the local tribes and he prepared more than 8 000 men for this goal 9 The expedition was launched on 17 November The campaign EditInitial capture of Blida Edit The inhabitants of Blida refused to allow the French army into the city and a fierce battle broke out which left an unknown amount of killed or wounded The French army burned the orchards surrounding the city and the inhabitants were forced to flee into the mountains Before his departure from Blida General Bertrand Clausel left a French garrison under the command of Colonel Roulhieres and headed towards Medea 10 Battle of Mouzaia Edit Boumezrag awaited the French troops with about 6 000 men of his own in the Mouzaia pass 1 500 Algerian troops were situated on the eastern and western side of the pass The rest of the troops of the Bey of Tittery were echeloned in the gorge in front of the main position occupying the points most favorable to the defense of the pass and some troops composed of Arab and Berber tribal cavalry were situated near the rear of the French troops 9 These defensive positions could only be attacked from the front and from the left the depth of the cliff which bordered the right of the road not allowing troops to pass on that side On November 25 11 a column composed of 14th 20th and 28th French line infantry regiments climbed the heights to the east and took the troops of the Bey of Titteri from the rear by surprise Several French companies soon engaged in a heavy battle with the troops of the Bey After a short but lively fight the position was taken by the French units and the Algerians astonished at the vigor of the attack fled the field At the end of the day the French flag flew over the pass During this fight the second lieutenant of the 20th regiment Patrice de Mac Mahon was particularly distinguished 9 12 Fall of Medea capitulation of Boumezrag Edit While advancing towards Medea the French had to repel several minor attacks and skirmishes against them before a poorly dressed man from the city gave the general a letter of submission Boumezrag fled the city with his family and went into hiding in Kabylia before capitulating to the French a few days later 13 A new bey would be installed instead of him called Mustapha ben Omar Ben Zaamoum s counter attack Edit Despite the initial success a French contingent was ambushed near Mouzaia by tribes loyal the Ben Zaamoum and 27 French soldiers were killed Before General Clausel returned from Medea the Algerians managed to eliminate a French contingent of 100 soldiers near Boufarik on 25 November 1830 Finally on the 26th of November a large Algerian army commanded by Ben Zaamoum stormed Blida and took over several quarters of the city After heavy fighting between the armies the French soon decided to withdraw from the city as according to Clausel the city was not worth the risk See also EditAlgerian War First Battle of Blida French Algeria French conquest of AlgeriaReferences Edit Histoire de l armee et de tous les regiments depuis les premiers temps de monarchie francais jusqu a nos jours History of the Army and of All Regiments from Earliest Times to our Day read online L Algerois rural a la fin de l epoque ottomane 1791 1830 read online l histoire de Blida The Story of Blida extrait de aux echos d Alger from Echos of Algiers numero 45 read online Bosworth Clifford Edmund 2007 01 01 Historic Cities of the Islamic World BRILL ISBN 978 90 04 15388 2 Toprak Binnaz 1981 01 01 Islam and Political Development in Turkey BRILL ISBN 978 90 04 06471 3 Karim Labeche Ahmed 2016 05 30 Cote ouest d Alger in French LABECHE ISBN 978 9947 0 4621 0 جويلية 07 23 مركز الجزائر للدراسات والإعلام 2016 11 28 Archived from the original on 2016 11 28 Retrieved 2021 12 10 Countries Ab Am www rulers org Retrieved 2021 12 10 a b c Pellion Pierre 1875 Histoire du marechal de Mac Mahon president de la republique francaise in French Rossel Joseph et Caroline ou le berger de la Sologne Histoire veritable Par Joseph R y officier de la legion des Ardennes Avec figures Premiere deuxieme partie in French 1799 GALIBERT Leon 1844 L Algerie ancienne et moderne etc Vignettes par Raffet et Rouargue freres in French Bitard Adolphe 1880 Dictionnaire de biographie contemporaine francaise et etrangere contenant les noms prenoms pseudonymes de tous les personnages celebres du temps present l histoire de leur vie de leurs actes et de leurs oeuvres la date de leur naissance et des principaux evenements de leur carriere etc augmente d un supplement in French L Vanier Lagardette Reynaud Jules Antoine Edmond de Benezit Dictionary of Artists Oxford University Press 2011 10 31 doi 10 1093 benz 9780199773787 article b00102984 This article about a battle in French history is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This African history related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Medea expedition 1830 amp oldid 1106315242, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
