THE 



ANNUAL CYCLOPAEDIA. 



A 



ABD-EL-KADER (properly SIDI EL-HADJI 

 ABD EL-KADKR ULED MAHIDDIN), a distin- 

 guished Arab chief, and one of the most promi- 

 nent representatives of Mohammedanism in the 

 nineteenth century ; born neat Mascara in Al- 

 geria about 1807, died in Damascus in Novem- 

 ber, 1879. By a pilgrimage to Mecca, which 

 he made together with his father, who was a 

 marabout (Arab seer), as well as by his studies 

 at the University of Fez, he gained a reputa- 

 tion for piety and the title el-Hadji, the pil- 

 grim. The conquest of Algeria by the French, 

 however, made of the future priest a warrior. 

 Upon the recommendation of his father the 

 people elected him Ameer of Mascara, and he 

 soon, by his perseverance, indomitable courage, 

 and patriotism, gained the love and confidence 

 of the Kabyles to a high degree. In 1832 and 

 1833 he was engaged in a war with France, 

 and, although repeatedly defeated, finally com- 

 pelled the French to conclude the treaty of 

 February 26, 1834, by which his sovereignty 

 was acknowledged, and he was permitted to buy 

 arms in France. He next subjugated the na- 

 tive tribes, extending his authority over the 

 entire provinces of Titeri and Oran. In the 

 following year he again waged war against the 

 French, defeating General Trezel on the Mak- 

 ta, June 28, 1835, and General d'Arlanges on 

 the Tafua, April 25, 1836; and he continued 

 his guerrilla struggle with such success that 

 the French, who were then contemplating 

 the capture of Constantino, in order to gain 

 time for this undertaking, made another treaty 

 with him on May 30, 1837, in which they 

 recognized his authority under the nominal 

 sovereignty of France, and by which he was 

 intrusted with the administration of the prov- 

 inces of Oran, Titeri, and Algeria, with the 

 exception of the capitals and the Metidja of 

 Algiers. In 1839 he renewed the war against 

 France ; but this time the French were more 

 successful, so that in 1842 he was compelled 

 to seek refuge in Morocco. Abd-er-Raham, 

 the Sultan of Morocco, received him ; but, be- 

 VOL. xix. 1 A 



fore the Sultan had made up his mind what to 

 do, he had involved Morocco in a war with 

 France, which was short and decisive. In the 

 battle of Isly, August 14, 1844, the Moors were 

 completely defeated, and, fearing Abd-el-Ka- 

 der's influence in Morocco, the Sultan conclud- 

 ed peace with France, and Abd-el-Kader was 

 again a fugitive. Stirring up revolt in Morocco 

 itself, he defeated the troops of the Sultan in 

 several battles. The power against him was 

 too strong, however, and on December 21, 

 1847, he was forced to enter French territory, 

 and on the following day surrendered to Gen- 

 eral Lamoriciere. The General promised to 

 send him to Egypt or to Syria, and the Duke 

 d'Aumale confirmed this promise. This pledge 

 was broken by the Government of Louis Phi- 

 lippe, and he was retained in captivity for 

 many years. President Louis Napoleon, how- 

 ever, released him in 1852, after he had sworn 

 on the Koran not to oppose the French rule in 

 Africa. He then took up his abode in Brussa, 

 and afterward in Damascus, where he exerted 

 himself strongly in favor of the Christians at 

 the time of the Syrian massacres of 1860, for 

 which he received the grand cross of the Le- 

 gion of Honor. Louis Napoleon allowed him 

 a pension of 100,000 francs, which was reduced 

 in 1879. He visited the Paris Exposition and 

 England in 1867, and in 1870 offered his ser- 

 vices to France against Germany. In 1871 

 Abd-el-Kader submitted to the Government 

 of Thiers some suggestions relative to re- 

 forms in the administration of Algeria. Since 

 that time but little has been heard of him. He 

 was knowu to live a retired life in Damascus, 

 devoting his time to religious duties, the edu- 

 cation of his children, and literary pursuits. 

 Though one of the boldest, bravest, and most 

 intrepid defenders of decaying Mohammedan- 

 ism against the victorious advance of Christian 

 nations, Abd-el-Kader was by no means an 

 obstinate opponent of modern civilization, but 

 showed an eagerness to learn from his victors. 

 Ever since 1852 he was on the best terms with 



