The Deys or Beys of Algiers - for Digsalot or other historians
This is a complicated question requiring a complicated answer, I will
simplify it as much as possible. I need to know aspects of both the
Regency of Algiers (pre-1830) and the French government of Algiers
(mainly between 1830-1870).
1. The Dey of Algiers was oficially the Viceroy of the Ottoman Sultan
but had by the nineteenth century become virtually independent. Was
the position now hereditary, and if so by what law of succession ? It
had originally been that he was elected in some way by the Turkish
garrison.
2. The Dey ruled over threee Beyliks, each of whom would have had a
Bey as governor. Was there any hereditary nature to the rule of these
Beyliks, or were they dependant for appointment on the Dey ?
3. I have seen lists of the Deys that go as far as the time that
Algiers became independent. I am assuming that some succession law was
in operation during French rule, so that the Dey became like a native
subject king. Did he continue to have any powers under French
occupation ? If so, what were these limited to ? Were beys still
appointed or had these been completely abolished in favour of French
governors sent by Paris or appointed by the French Military Governor.
4. More or less as a different way of saying 3 in order to cover all I
need to know, I don't need to know about French administration of
Algiers, but I do need to know what legacy institutions from Regency
times continued to be important, at least until 1870 when France made
major changes, and how much traditional ruling families still had a
say in things ?
5. For a bonus, the Tuggart Sultanate existed in the South until it
was abolished in 1854 by the French colonial authorities. Was this an
ethnic Tuareg state, and did the ex-sultans continue to have any role
in the land after the formal abolition of the sultanate. If so, is
there an online list of them anywhere beyond 1854
If you want a kind of mindframe to hold this in, consider that a
1870-equivalent French authority is removed and the victorious power
is looking to see what native institutions there have been, what still
remains with power, what still remains with more formality than power,
and what has been abolished but may possibly be re-established.
Thanks in advance ! |
