The History of Algiers

Founded by:

The Phoenicians and the Romans first colonized the now modern city of Algiers in 1st century A.D. The Phoenicians named the city Ikosin and the Romans named it Icosium. (Phillip C. Naylor, 572) Twenty companions of Hercules founded the city of Icosium and this city remained a small coastal trading post throughout the Phoenician and Carthaginian eras. (HISTORY: Algiers, 1)

The History of Rulers:

In 146BC, the city known as Isocium became part of the Roman Empire and remained there until 5th century AD when the Vandals conquered it. The town then became part of the Byzantium before the Arab conquests in the 7th century. When Europeans came to Christianize the North Africans, the bishop resided in Algiers. Invaders, including the Vandals, Byzantines and Arabs, came into the area and left it destroyed and deserted until the middle of the 10th century, when the Berbers settled there. Bulukkin, son of Zeiri and founder of the Zeirid-Sanhaja dynasty, founded what is known as the modern city in 944. He called it Al-Jaza'ir and under his rule, the city became an important trading center. Over the centuries, Al-Jaza'ir eventually fell to a number of rulers and their dynasties, including the Hasfids in the 13th and 15th centuries and the Merinids in the 14th century. The Almohades followed as rulers, then the local chieftains, and finally the Ottoman Turks took control of the city in the 13th century. The native citizens, called baldis, or baladis then controlled the affairs of the city.

Spanish Possession:

As early as 1302, the Spanish commander Pedro Navarro took possession of the islet of Penon in the harbor. The Spanish then began to trade with the locals. After the Spanish Inquisition, in which the Spanish rulers expelled the Moors and Jews in Spain, Algiers became a refuge for the Jews and Muslims and many flocked in from Spain.

The Barabossa Brothers:

Two brothers, Aruj and Khair ad Din (Barabossa, or Red Beard), succeeded in taking control of what is now known as the Ottoman Empire. In 1516, Aruj moved his base of operations to Algiers but later died in his invasion of Tlemecen. His brother, Red Beard, became the military commander of Algiers and the Ottoman sultan later gave him the title of beylerbey, or principal governor. Under his rule of Algiers, the legendary city became a center of the Ottoman Empire, which it remains today, in the Maghrib, from which the power of Tunis, Tripoli and Tlemcen would be overcome and Morocco's independence threatened. (Helen Chapin Metz, 19) Algiers became the headquarters for the Barbary pirates and succeeded as a refuge for the pirates.

Khair ad Din

Helen Chapin Metz, 21

Maghrib: The western Islamic world; traditionally includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Tripolitania (315)

Ottoman Turk Rule:

Under the Turks, captains (rais) sail the Mediterranean, reaching the North Sea and Iceland, while searching for prizes and hostages. Because of this, the victim states often attack the city of Algiers. When going there, watch out for attacks by pirates and be sure to be safe when walking around the port, for pirates like to attack the city of Algiers often.

*To compile this this page I used the following references:

Phillip C. Naylor, 572

"ArabNet -- Algeria, Tour Guide, Algiers"

Malcom C. Peck, 365

"Algiers," 290

"Algiers," 558

Helen Chapin Metz, 19-21

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