Odjak of Algiers

The Odjak of Algiers was a unit of the Algerine army.[1] It was a heavily autonomous part of the Janissary Corps, acting completely independently from the rest of the corps,[2] similar to the relationship between Algiers and the Sublime Porte. Led by an Agha, they also took part in the country's internal administration, and politics, ruling the country for several years.[3] They acted as a defence unit, a Praetorian Guard,[4] and an instrument of repression until 1817.

Odjak of Algiers
Ujaq
A Janissary of Algiers
Active1518-1830
DisbandedDe jure 1830, De facto 1837
Country Regency of Algiers
AllegianceAgha of the Odjak
Size12,000 (1600)
7,000 (1750)
4,000 (1800)
Main locationAlgiers
EquipmentInitially:
Equipment by the Ottoman Empire
After 1710:
Nimcha, Kabyle musket, and other locally made weapons
EngagementsAlgiers expedition (1541)
Tuggurt Expedition (1552)
French-Algerian War 1681–88
Battle of Moulouya
Tunisian-Algerian Wars
Algerine civil war (1710)
Invasion of Algiers (1775)
Invasion of Algiers in 1830
Battle of Constantine
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Ibrahim Agha

Composition

The Unit was initially strictly composed of "Turks", usually either from the Levant, or Anatolia. These "Turks" were not strictly Turkish. They included Albans, Greeks, Bulgarians, Kurds, Maltese etc.[5] Arabs, Moors, and Berbers were forbidden to join it.[6] The reason for this was a mix of Racism from the commanders of the corps against the locals, and fears that admitting local Algerians into the corps would lead to a rebellion.

Kouloughlis

A sort of One-drop rule developed in Algeria, wherein anyone with 1 Turk ancestor would be branded a Kouloughli by the Turkish ruling elite, even if the person in question is mainly Algerian. This led to the Kouloughlis relating more to the Algerians than to the Turks, and vice versa. In 1629 the Kouloughlis allied with many other local tribes attempted to drive out the Odjak and the janissaries. They failed, and were expelled. In 1674, they were allowed to join the corps, but only 1st generation kouloughlis (direct sons of Turks). In 1694, this was laxed, and all Kouloughlis were allowed to join the odjak.[7] The unit itself, became more and more segregated as the fresh Janissaries imported from the Ottomans refused to work with the Kouloughlis. This is what later caused the downfall of the initially dominant Turkish class. In 1817 Ali Khodja couped the country following a decisive defeat. The Turk janissaries attempted a coup, against whom Ali Khodja raised the Kouloughli Janissaries, and allied berber tribes such as the Igawawen. The Turks were defeated and slaughtered while the rest were sent back to the Ottoman provinces.[8][9][10]

Berbers, Arabs, and Moors

Despite initially not being allowed to join the army, as time passed, and relations became more and more distant between the Ottoman Empire and the Regency, importation of troops became more and more problematic. Initially, some locals were allowed to join the odjak as garrison Auxiliaries. This became more and more common, but as said before only in isolated areas. Between 1699 and 1701, out of 40 cases of janissaries whose origins are mentioned, 5 had been recruited among the Algerian natives, but these were in mostly rural areas. In reality, the corps was still overwhelmingly Turkish. After a civil war in 1710, the Odjak was weakened, and the Dey-Pacha had far more authority than before. He weakened the janissaries, and forced them to lax their procedures. As time passed, these procedures were more and more lax. After 1775, the Jannisaries once again gained power, and reinstated their strict rules. Between 1786 and 1792, the figures were 8 out of 90. Another period of "equality" ensued, and by 1803 every 17th janissary was of native origins.[11]

Turmoil in 1817

After a period of stagnation, and military defeat Algiers was severely weakened. After losing the Barbary Wars, and the Bombardment of Algiers, the Odjak sprung into action and killed the ruling dey, Omar Agha. Ali Khodja took his place, who wanted to weaken the Odjak. The Janissaries immediately attempted to depose him. Ali in turn brought in the Kouloughli janissaries and native Zwawa horsemen. In the ensuing battle the Turkish Janissaries were defeated, some of them slaughtered, while others banished to Turkey. Ali reformed the Odjak from an elite military unit, royal guard, and an instrument of repression, to a mediocre military unit, as to curtail their influence. They were replaced in their duties of assuring the Dey's safety by the Zwawa.

References
  1. "L'Odjak d'Alger". www.algerie-ancienne.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  2. Abun-Nasr, Jamil M.; Abun-Nasr, Abun-Nasr, Jamil Mirʻi (1987-08-20). A History of the Maghrib in the Islamic Period. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-33767-0.
  3. Brenner, William J. (2016-01-29). Confounding Powers: Anarchy and International Society from the Assassins to Al Qaeda. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-10945-2.
  4. HistoireDuMonde.net. "Histoire du monde.net". histoiredumonde.net (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  5. Morell, John Reynell (1854). Algeria: The Topography and History, Political, Social, and Natural, of French Africa. N. Cooke.
  6. Jean Andre Peyssonnel, Voyages dans les regences de Tunis and d'Alger, published by Dureau de la Malle: Volume 1, p.  404
  7. Extract from Tachrifat , reported by Pierre Boyer, 1970, page 84
  8. Rousset et al. 1879, p. 10.
  9. Boyer et al. 1970, p. 92.
  10. Fleury et al. 2008, p. 25-26.
  11. Shuval, Tal (2013-09-30), "Chapitre II. La caste dominante", La ville d’Alger vers la fin du XVIIIe siècle : Population et cadre urbain, Connaissance du Monde Arabe, Paris: CNRS Éditions, pp. 57–117, ISBN 978-2-271-07836-0, retrieved 2021-01-12
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