BEFORE THE BLOW OF THE “FLY-WHISK”, A NAPOLEONIC
PROJECT
French plans for the conquest of Algeria had
matured long before the famous “blow of the fly-whisk” event of 1827. Napoleon Bonaparte had once regarded Algeria
as an indispensable foreign market for the industrial development of France. In
his talks with Alexander I in Tilzit (1807) and Erfurt (1808), whenever the
question of the partition of the Ottoman Empire arose, Napoleon I never failed
to include Algeria in his future domains. To prepare for the conquest of the
country in 1808, he sent the military engineer, Major Buten, to Algeria and
Tunisia to make a topographical survey and work out a plan for the expedition.
Although the defeats in Spain and Russia prevented Napoleon 1st from
putting his plans into practice, Buten’s material was to come in handy during
the preparations for the expedition of 1830.
A DIVERSION FROM INTERNAL STRIFE
Charles X recalled Napoleon’s plans in the last
days of the collapsing Bourbon monarchy. The greed for new markets was the
primary reason for the conquest of the Algerian regency, as the country was
called in the official documents of the time. Of no little importance was the
desire of the French landowners, who had lost their lands during the Great
Revolution, to acquire new estates. By conquering Algeria, the Bourbons hoped
to strengthen their own tottering throne. Charles X and his Prime Minister,
Polignac, calculated that the military adventure would stir up a wave of
nationalist feelings and delay the revolution. Tsarist Russia supported the
aggressive plans of the Bourbon monarchy. Although England objected, she
offered no resolute opposition.
PIRACY AND CHRISTIAN PRISONERS, A FICTION
As a propaganda pretext for the Algerian adventure,
France raised the question of “piracy and the sufferings of prisoners in
Algeria” as well as the financial account of the Dey government. It must be
noted, however, that as far back as the 18th century and especially after the
punitive expeditions of the European squadrons and the United States at the
beginning of the 19th century, Maghreb piracy had fallen into decay and had
long since ceased to serve as a profitable business for the ruling clique of
Algeria. The Algerians’ opposition to the decisions of the Aix-la-Chapelle
congress, however, made it possible for France to brand the Dey government as
the protector of the pirates.
FRENCH INGRATITUDE AND INTRIGUE
The question of financial accounts was equally
fictitious. During the revolution the Dey had sent supplies of wheat, salt-beef
and hides to France, which was under a blockade at the time. He also supplied
Bonaparte’s army with provisions during the Italian and Egyptian campaigns. The
majority of the deliveries were made on a credit basis and the Dey received
nothing in return. The agreement on the repayment of debts and settlement of
mutual claims concluded later through the mediation of the Algerian Jewish
merchants, Bakri and Bushnack, did not satisfy the Dey. He felt that the French
had deceived him, and cheated the Algerian treasury of several million francs.
The dispute over the debts lasted for several years and irritated the Dey and
his men. Moreover, a conflict arose over the stronghold at La Calle, which the
French had begun to fortify in spite of the formal prohibition of the Dey.
The differences were considerably aggravated by the
French consul in Algeria, Pierre Deval. According to a French historian, in
Algeria he was regarded as a person of questionable reputation, a rascal and
unprincipled intriguer. He played a dirty and provocative role in the money
conflict. Deval plotted, lied and exorted bribes from the Dey.
THE FLY-WHISK? THEY BEGGED FOR IT!
One hot morning on April 29, 1827, during one of
their countless squabbles, Deval gravely insulted the Dey, who in his
indignation struck Deval with his fly-whisk. This provided France with the long-awaited excuse.
She immediately severed all relations with Algeria and blockaded the Algerian
coast. At first she decided to act through the Egyptians. In 1829, Mohammed
Ali, the governor of Egypt and one of France’s chief allies in the East, had
almost agreed to attack Algeria, but then refused to bargain with France
because of the insignificant reward that was offered.
In such circumstances the Polignac government and
Charles X decided to operate independently. On June 14, 1830, the 37,000-strong
French army under General de Bourmont landed at Sidi-Ferruch (23 kilometres
west of Algiers). Opposition was strong, but fruitless. In the fight for Algiers,
the French lost 400 men and the Turks lost 10,000. On July 4, 1830, Fort de
l’Empereur fell. In the evening, the Dey signed an unconditional surrender and
on the following day, July 5, the French entered Algiers. On July 23, 1830, the
Dey was deported, the janissaries left for Turkey, the enemy plundered the
Algerian treasury (about 48,000,000 francs) and also seized the homes, land and
property of many Algerians.
Two weeks later, a revolution took place in Paris
and Charles X’s shaky throne collapsed. General de Bourmont tried to send his
troops to save the Bourbons, but met with the resistance of the soldiers.
Having abandoned the army, he fled to Portugal.
MONEY BAG AND EASY PROFIT
The July monarchy of Louis Philippe de Orleans
accepted the Algerian heritage of the Bourbons and after some hesitation
decided to continue fighting in the name of the self-interest of the new rulers
of France-knights of the money bag and easy profit. ln 1834, in conformity with
the recommendations of the “Commission on Africa,” Louis Philippe formally
proclaimed Algeria’s annexation and organised the civil administration of the
“French possessions in North Africa” under a governor-general. By that time France
had occupied only the coastal towns of Algiers, Oran, Mostaganem, Arzew and
Bougie as well as the Algerian coastline and Metija. The rest of the country
would not surrender to the French authorities.
WHAT LIES AHEAD
Having seized Algiers, de Bourmont arrogantly
announced in his report: “The whole kingdom will surrender to us within fifteen
days without firing a single shot.” But he was mistaken. The French subdued the
north of Algeria only after forty years of bloody fighting.
No sooner had the news of the capital’s fall spread
throughout the country than the tribes rose in arms against the enemy…
(To be continued with episodes about the Algerian
resistance to the French invasion)
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