Since the
Invasion of Algiers in 1830,
Emir Abd el-Kader had taken lead of the tribes of the region of
Mascara to oppose the French in 1832.
A first treaty, signed by
General Desmichels in 1834, was deemed too favorable to him. in 1837,
Marshal Bugeaud was therefore instructed to sign a new one, the
Treaty of Tafna, which required Abd el-Kader to recognize the sovereignty of
France in North Africa, in exchange for which France recognized the authority of Abd el-Kader over a large part of Algeria; the whole
Beylik of Oran (with the exception of the cities of
Oran,
Arzew,
Mostaganem and
Mazagran), the
Beylik of Titteri and the
Beylik of Algiers (with the exception of the cities of
Algiers and
Blida), as well as the plain of
Mitidja and the . The Sultan of Morocco
Abd al-Rahman attempted seizing
Tlemcen from the French in October 1830. The Sultan sent 5,000 cavalry and infantry. Moroccan soldiers rampaged through the streets of Tlemcen, looting and fighting. The Sultan eventually had to retreat them in the face of French diplomatic and naval pressure. He fled to Morocco looking to gain support to continue the war from the Sultan of Morocco
Abd al-Rahman, as well as the concession of the territory located between
Oujda and the . Abd el-Kader had raised a real army, and in November 1839, supported by the Sultan of Morocco
Abd al-Rahman, he declared war on France, following the crossing of the
Bibans (
Iron Gates) by the French army. In reaction, the French then truly undertook the systematic conquest of the country, which the
July monarchy made a reason for national pride and military heroism. This conquest was the work of
Marshal Bugeaud, appointed governor in 1840. Algeria's major cities fell and Abd el-Kader saw his mobile encampment destroyed in
Taguin in 1843 following the
Battle of the Smala and was driven back into the
desert. He then took refuge in
Morocco, but, at the same time, the army of Sultan
Abd al-Rahman was defeated at , while the French fleet
bombarded the ports of
Tangier and
Mogador. == Prelude ==