Beylik of Titteri
{{Short description|Governorate (Beylik) in the Regency of Algiers}}
{{Infobox former country
| demonym = Titteri
| established_event3 = End of the Beylik of Titteri
| membership_type = Governorate
| ethnic_groups = Majority:
Arab-Berbers
Minorities
Maghrebi Jews
Janissaries
| capital = Médéa
| religion = Sunni Islam
| date_end = 1834
| event_end = End of the Beylik of Titteri
| established_date3 = 1834
| established_date2 = 1830
| today = Algeria
| established_event2 = Médéa expedition
| established_date1 = 1546
| established_event1 = Establishment of the Beyliks
| map_caption = The Beyliks of the Regency of Algiers
| image_map = Eyalet of Algéria in the 1700.png
| official_languages = {{ubl|Arab|Ottoman Turkish}}
| common_languages = {{ubl|Algerian Arabic|Berber}}
| native_name = {{native name|ar|بايلك التيطري}}
| common_name = Beylik of Titteri
| conventional_long_name = Beylik of the Centre
| government_type = Autonomous governorate
}}
The Beylik of Titteri (Arabic : bâylik at-Tîtrî) was one of the three permanent Beyliks of the Regency of Algiers, the other two being the Western Beylik, and the Beylik of Constantine. It was established in 1546 and was ended during the French conquest of Algeria.{{Cite book |last=Kaddache |first=Mahfoud |year=1998 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CXtyAAAAMAAJ |title=L'Algérie durant la période ottomane |language=fr |publisher=Office des publications universitaires |isbn=978-9961-0-0099-1 |page=127 |access-date=2016-09-08}}
History
Arudj Barbarossa annexed Médéa and established a garrison there in 1517. Hassan Pacha (the son of Arudj) created the Al-Taitri Baylik or the Beylik of Titteri in 1546 appointing a certain "Recep Bey" as its first governor. It was governed regularly, it engaged in tribal diplomacy, collected taxes, pacified revolts, and paid taxes to Algiers. The Beys of the province were appointed by the leader of Algiers.
The province was initially meant as a governorate for the southern parts of the country, and many cities in the Saharan parts of Algeria such as Laghouat paid taxes to it,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=poo8-aABnVwC&dq=laghouat+1727+1828&pg=PA128|title=Bulletin du comité des travaux historiques et scientifiques: section de géographie|date=1894|publisher=Imprimerie nationale|language=fr}} although in the 18th century it was expanded into western Kabylia.{{Cite book|last=algérienne|first=Société historique|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jM0OAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA138|title=Revue africaine|date=1873|publisher=La Société|language=fr}}
= Fall of Algiers and its aftermath =
The Beylik of Titteri, led by its bey, Mustefa Boumezrag sent troops to fight during the invasion of Algiers, and refused to surrender to the French after the Capitulation of Algiers.William Duckett, Dictionnaire de la conversation et de la lecture, Paris, Firmin Didot, 1867, p. 83
It resisted along with Mohamed ben Zamoum against the French and fought a few battles with him such first battle of Blida, which resulted in an Algerian victory.{{Cite book|last=Saʻīdūnī|first=Nāṣir al-Dīn|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W-5yAAAAMAAJ|title=L'Algerois rural à la fin de l'époque ottomane (1791-1830)|date=2001|publisher=Dar al-Gharb al-Islami|language=fr}}
In 1831, after a few defeats, the French governor of Algeria, Bertrand Clauzel, decided to crush the Beylik of Titteri, and sent a large military detachment to capture Médéa. During the Battle of Mouzaïa, the forces of Titteri were defeated,Le Magasin pittoresque (1840), d'Édouard Charton pages 147-148. which gave way for the French to invade Médéa. The Médéa expedition of 1830 resulted in a decisive French victory which temporarily put an end to the Beylik of Titteri.Annales Algériennes d'Edmond Pellissier de Reynaud Tome 1 livre VI
In 1831, a son of Mustefa Boumezrag, took over the city of Médéa, and announced himself as the new bey, although the French quickly put an end to his revolt.Dix huit mois à Alger by Pierre Berthezène
In 1832, Ahmed Bey ben Mohamed Chérif appointed one of his generals, Mohammed el Kadji, as the new Bey, although this role was mostly nominal.
In 1834, the French finally put an end to the Beylik, officially disestablishing it.
References
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