Dey Ahmed Chabane | |
|---|---|
| Native name | ⴰⵀⵎⴷ ⵛⵀⴰⴱ أحمد شعبان |
| Birth name | Ahmed Chabane |
| Nickname(s) | Dey Chabane Hadj Chabane Hadj Ahmed Chabane |
| Born | Algiers, Regency of Algiers |
| Died | 15 August 1695 Algiers, Regency of Algiers |
| Cause of death | Strangled |
| Allegiance |  Regency of Algiers |
| Years of service | 1688-1695 |
| Rank | Dey of Algiers |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Moulouya Siege of Oran (1693) Battle Of Djidioua Tunisian–Algerian War (1694) |
Dey Chabane was the Fourth Dey of Algiers, He ruled from 1688-1695.[1]
On the 24th of March, 1690, a formal ceremony transpired in Algiers, marking the official induction of René Lemaire, amongst the most commendable consuls in the service of France within the region. Esteemed by Dey Chabane, Mr. Lemaire efficaciously orchestrated, in July 1690, the dispatch of an Algerian Embassy to the court of Versailles, an endeavor that garnered considerable attention and curiosity, and Hadj Chabane made sure, he had good relations with the french.[2]
Hadj Chabane took the lead in his first campaign during the Battle of Moulouya, which was caused by persistent incursions into sovereign territories. The delineation of borders between The Regency and Morocco was initially established along the Moulouya River After the Campaign of Tlemcen in 1551[3] The campaign proved successful resulting in the defeat of the Moroccan king, Ismael Ben Cherif[4] and subsequently prompting further incursions from him.[5]
In 1692, following the Algerians' occupation of the eastern side of the Moulouya River, Ismail Ibn Sharif endeavored to reclaim it in 1693, but was stopped by Algerian Arab Tribes, Who with the spanish, kicked them out of Oran. Recognizing the strategic value of the river's eastern flank, which encompassed cities such as Oujda, Fguig, Berkane, and others, this territory held significant economic and historical importance for the Moroccan state according to Ismail Ben Sharif.[6] Ismail Ibn Sherif commissioned an army to traverse the terrain of the Moulouya River, penetrating deeper into Algerian territory. The confrontation persisted until they reached the crucial juncture of Relizane, where they encountered formidable resistance from a well-prepared Algerian army, ultimately succumbing once more to the forces led by Chabane.[5][7]
In 1694, Hadj Chabane, supported by the Tripolitans, resolved to chastise Mohammed Bey and declined the tribute offered as a gesture of submission. The two armies converged at Kef on the 24th of June 1694. On the same day, Mohamed Bey El Mouradi launched an attack against the Algerians, only to be defeated. Subsequently, he initiated a new assault the following day, met with no greater success. On the 26th of June, Chabane assumed the offensive, breached the enemy lines, and pursued them to Tunis, ultimately capturing the city, And making Tunisia an Algerian vassal and tributary state.[8]
On August 15, 1695, Hadj Chabane met an unfortunate end, being strangled by Janissaries. This occurred when he entertained the notion of launching another campaign against Tunisia.[9]