Bombardment of Algiers (1688)

The bombardment of Algiers in 1688 was a military expedition ordered by Louis XIV against the Regency of Algiers in order to enforce the peace treaty of 1683 which had been violated by Algerian pirates. The squadron, comprising 31 ships and 10 bomb galiots, was commanded by Jean II d'Estrées.[2][3][4]

Bombardment of Algiers (1688)
Part of French-Algerian War 1681-88

The bombardment of Algiers, 1688
DateJune–July 1688
Location
Algiers
Result

Algerian victory

  • French retreat
  • French ambition stopped[1]
  • Algiers heavily damaged
Belligerents
Royal Standard of the King of France France Algiers
Commanders and leaders
Royal Standard of the King of France Jean II d'Estrées Mezzo Morto Hüseyin Pasha
Units involved
31 warships
10 bomb galiots
Unknown

D'Estrées' squadron arrived at Algiers on 26 June. It succeeded in inflicting serious damage on the city, but its artillery defences had been strengthened since the previous French expeditions in 1682 and 1683.[5] As a result, the French fleet lost several ships and was obliged to retire after 16 days, without being able to enforce the peace treaty.[6]

Aftermath

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The power of the Dey of Algiers, Mezzo Morto Hüseyin Pasha was destabilised by the French assault, and in the end he fled the city in the face of public discontent. His successor Hadj Chabane appointed an ambassador to Versailles, Mohamed el Amin, to negotiate a lasting peace, which was concluded in 1690.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Ferdinand Ludwig Von Bressler Und Aschenburg (1722). "Die heutigen christlichen Souverainen von Europa.".
  2. ^ Kaddache, Mahfoud (1982). L'Algérie des Algériens. Algiers: Société nationale d'édition et de diffusion. p. 417. ISBN 978-9-961-96621-1.
  3. ^ Geoffrey Symcox (6 December 2012). The Crisis of French Sea Power, 1688–1697: From the Guerre d'Escadre to the Guerre de Course. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 74. ISBN 978-94-010-2072-5.
  4. ^ Gaïd, Mouloud (1975). L'Algérie sous les Turcs. Maison tunisienne de l'édition. p. 148. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  5. ^ Gaïd 1975, p. 75
  6. ^ Geoffrey Symcox (2012). The Crisis of French Sea Power, 1688–1697 From the Guerre d'Escadre to the Guerre de Course. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 74. ISBN 978-94-010-2072-5.
  7. ^ Jörg Manfred Mössner (10 October 2013). Die Völkerrechtspersönlichkeit und die Völkerrechtspraxis der Barbareskenstaaten: (Algier, Tripolis, Tunis 1518-1830). De Gruyter. p. 15. ISBN 978-3-11-169567-9.