Political and administrative systems in Algeria
1-Introduction
Algeria’s accession to the Ottoman empire made enormous transformations in the political system and administrative division in the Algerian territory, dictated by the big updates and challenges of the new authority. Adding to that, the necessity to adapt the administrative and political regulations’ to Algeria's role in the upcoming eras, particularly in its mediterranean relations, and backing-up its international position and prestige.
2-The administrative system
Algeria’s accession to the Ottoman empire resulted in dividing algeria administratively into four territories, as it follows:
Dar Sultan: It was the smallest and most distinctive district, belonging to the central authority in Algiers city. It was where the Dey and his government members lived, and it geographically included five states which were: Algiers, Blida, Kolea, Dellys and Cherchel. It extended from Dellys east to Cherchel west, and from the seacoast north to the foothills of the south Atlas of Blida . It included the two regions of the coast and Mitidja with some extensions in Kabylie and Titteri.
Titteri Baylik: This baylik was established in 947 AH / 1548 AD by Hassan Pasha then he made Radjab the Bey, and Medea city the base. This Baylik was bounded by the Northern Atlas of Blida from all the sides as it was the narrowest. It lacked good agricultural lands, because this Baylik existed for political reasons rather than the economic and administrative ones. In the early days of the Turkish era, the Titteri Bey was sometimes residing in Medea, and other times in Bordj Sebaou until he finally settled in Medea. The Bey of Titteri was not ruling his capital Medea, because the Turks had put it under a special ruling system subsidiary to the biggest office of Algiers city in order to limit his authority and decrease his power due to his proximity to Algiers city and the ease of communication with Dar Sultan and stay informed about what was happening if the office whose capital was Medea.
East Baylik: It was established in 974 AH / 1567 AD and its center was Constantine. It was one of the most important Beyliks in terms of both southern depth, or its area and fortunes. It had the best grain lands, and the finest palm trees. Its area extended from Ouedi Souf to the Mediterranean, and from the Tunisian borders to the center of Jurjura (El-Biban mountains , Sidi Hadjras , and Sidi Issa) This Baylik played a significant role in supervising the regency of Tunisia and contributed in subjecting it to the influence of the Turks of Algeria. Its capital was Constantine.
West Baylik: : It was established in 970 AH / 1563 AD, and its capital was Mazouna until 1710 AD, then it became Mascara city. Subsequently, when Oran city was regained from the Spaniards in 1792 AD, it became the district’s capital. It extended from the Moroccan borders to the borders that separate it from Dar Sultan and Titteri Baylik, and from the coasts of the Mediterranean to the coasts of El-Bayd city.
Mazouna remained the capital of West Baylik until the end of the 16th century AD. The most famous Beys who resided in it was the Bey son of Khadidja who was designated for the western region by Hassan Agha after his campaign on Oran in 1563 AD. This Bey worked on the establishment of administrative organizations in the western region, therefore he was the first actual Bey. Next was Bey Al-Sayah who ruled for 11 years, and Bey Muhammed Mussa. In addition to Chaaban Zanaki who stood out in one of the campaigns in Oran in which he passed away. The last Bey was Mustafa Abu Shalagem who moved the seat of the Baylik to Mascara city in 1710 AD for many reasons including: Mascara was a place that connected between the coastal zones and the interior. On one side, it was immune due to its location on the cliffs on the Beni Shagran mountains.On the other side, it was located in an agricultural area that consisted of the Gharis plain. However, the most important factor was that Mascara was chosen in order to blockade Oran and eliminate the Spanish presence there.
When Oran was freed from the Spaniards in early 18th century AD, the Dey commanded to join it to West Baylik in recognition of the favor of Bey Mustafa Abu Shalagem. The latter made it his permanent seat, and stayed for a quarter of a century until the Spaniards took it back in 1732 AD, and despite the several attempts of this Bey to gain it back starting from Mascara, the Spaniards stayed there for about 60 years until Bey Muhammed Al-Kabir finally took it back in 1792 AD, so he once again moved the seat of the baylik there. Its state was Mazouna then moved to Oran after liberating it in 1792 AD.
The administrative systems of the Algerian regency:
Algeria was run through a group of administrative systems that consisted of some small and big, public and private offices, in addition to some boards:
The Dey’s office (The major office)
It was the right-hand of the head of state, because it included his close officials on whom he relied on in executing the government policy. It included a big number of retired agents and officers. The number of the members ranged between 80 and 300 members.
Consultative council: It was composed of four members, who were:
Wakil Al-Kharaj: He was in charge of external affairs with foreign countries, in addition to all the funds and all what was related to ships, weapons, ammunitions, fortifications and facing the opponent in the middle of the sea. He was also the administrator of civil, and military affairs of the state.
Khoja Al-Khail: He was known as “At Kocasi” in Turkish, and he supervised the state’s properties as he was the number one responsible of tax collection, upkeep of the state’s property and reinvesting it, in addition to contacting the tribes when dealing with the government. He was considered as the minister of war, who could dispose of the states’ affairs.
Hazinedar: He was the minister of finance as he was in charge of the state treasury which could not be opened unless he was present, because he was the only one who had the keys of the public treasury.
Agha Al-Arab: The general leader of land forces. He was the leader of the land army including the Janissary groups, the units of Arab cavalry, and the volunteers. He came in the second position in the corps of senior officials in terms of the treatment and presents he was receiving. He was commanded directly by the Dey.
Office board: It was composed of several members:
Caliphate: He was the vice president.
Daftardar: He was the chief of office, also known as the secretary state.
Bash-Sayar: He was the post manager, and the agent of letters and commands, who delivered it to the owners. The post was exclusively for the state, not for the public.
The interpreter:
Shaosh-Kursi: He was the medium between the Dey, and the senior state officials.
Bayt-Malji: He was In charge of the department of properties and fortunes that go to the state after the death of the owners, or when they were excluded or lost. Also if there were no legal inheritors like brothers, children or relatives. He was also in charge of the inheritance of deceased people who had no inheritor.
Significantly, those offices had lost their importance and power just before 1830 AD, and it became a powerless and helpless ghost like the American Council in Algeria “Charles” described it.
3– The evolution of the ruling system in Algeria during the late modern era:
During the late modern era, Algeria had a known a special ruling system that went through many stages:
The Beylerbeyi stage (1518-1587)
This era was the brightest era in Algeria, where the country flourished during this period in educational, economic, and urban aspects, owing to the partnership between the navies category in leadership, and countrymen.
“Khair El Din'' was the first to hold the name of Baylerbeyi in Algeria and the Andalus migrants had a major role in the country's flourishment and development, and it reflected on all aspects of life, especially in ship and urban industries which still witness that era to the present day. Adding to that, their role in economy and trade. This stage was characterized by the achievement of the regional and the political unity of the state and the demarcation of its land borders. Also, liberating El Fenar tower in 1529 AD, and Bejaia in 1555 AD, from the Spaniards, and eliminating Spanish existence in Tunisia in 1574 AD.
In addition to the establishment of the Algerian maritime nucleus that was able to block the successive crusader raids.
The Pashas stage (1587-1659)
A new and different ruling system was adopted based on decreasing the power and authority of the rulers , due to the increasing power of the Beylerbeyi and the threat caused to the relation between the Ottoman state and Algeria. The Pasha’s period of ruling was determined to be three years for each one of them.
This stage was characterized by:
The emergence of the navies’ power (Algerian navy men), to the point where European countries were afraid of Algeria, and was seeking to build good relations and cooperate with it and gain amity.
Despite the international prestige Algeria had achieved in the Mediterranean until it became the first subject in it, some corruption manifested in the ruling system and its organs , so it was mandatory to fix the situation and reinforce it.
The Aghas stage (1659-1671)
Ruling was back to the Agha leader of the land army, where it was decided that the executive authority would be in the hands of the Agha, and the legislative authority in the hands of the office in order to make a balance inside the ruling system, by the time the Reyes sect lost its power, and started playing a secondary role in the governance of Algeria.
This stage did not last for a long time due to worsening of the local conflicts between the land army officers and the maritime army officers, in addition to people’s complaints about corruption, instability and the great number of assassinations in the Agha ranks. By the time European attacks by the French, English and Dutch pirates increased, taking advantage of the stability situation in Algeria in order to take its sovereignty down in the sea. This is what required correcting the situation and ending the conflict between the branches of government.
The Deys’ stage (1671-1830)
The Algerian rulers benefited from the previous ruling experiences. Due to the big challenges of the Algerian state, and the increasing presence of the hostile crusader power in the Mediterranean, a ruling position (Dey) was reinforced through the authority given to him and being designated among the three senior officers of the state: Khaznadji, Agha and Khoudja Al-Khayl.
This authority contributed in the stability of the ruling system, and in gaining important global benefits that imposed respect and dealing fairly and with sovereignty.
During this stage, Algeria was able to free Oran from the Spanish colonization in 1792, and the country experienced an urban and economic development remarkably during the era of Dey Hassan Pasha. Also the emergence of a Reyes figure like Rais Hamidou and many others.
Lastly, Algeria was able to establish the features of the Algerian state once again, block the crusader attacks and impose its existence as a sovereign power in the zone after a period of retreat and deterioration.
