Originally Phoenician,
Igilgili passed to the
Carthaginians, the
Roman Republic and
Empire, the
Vandals, the
Byzantines, the
Umayyads, the
Genovese, and the
Ottomans. It was conquered for the last time in the 16th century by
Hayreddin Barbarossa. In the book
Al-Istibsar fi 'agaib al-Amsar, written in the late 12th century, the author describes the city as: "It is an ancient city on the sea, with an old wall that extends into the sea, and it has great strategic significance. The city is abundant in grapes, apples, and fruits. From it, fruits, grapes, and
debes are carried to the city of
Béjaïa. On this city stands Mount Ketama, known as Mount Zaldwa, a very fertile area with many Berber tribes. It was here that the call of Abdullah al-Da‘i took place. Between Jijel and Béjaïa, on the coast, there is a place called Al-Mansuriyya, with a great mountain above it." In July 1664, the
French took the city. Resistance was organised under the direction of
Shaban Aga and the French were driven out in October of the same year. Jijel remained a
corsair stronghold until recaptured by the French in 1839. Strong local resistance, finally subdued in 1851, resulted in the construction of three forts along its southern fringe as well as minimal colonisation. The original town was devastated by an earthquake in 1856. ==Communications==