ABD-EL-KADER (18o7?-1883), amir of Mascara, the great opponent of the conquest of Algeria by France, was -born near Mascara in 1807 or i8o8. His family were sherifs or descendants of Mohammed, and his father, Mahi-ed-Din, was celebrated throughout north Africa for his piety and charity. Abd-el-Kader received an excellent education in theology and philosophy, in horsemanship and in other manly exercises. A pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina and to the tomb of Sidi Abd-el-Kader El Jalili at Baghdad stimulated his religious enthusiasm. While in Egypt in 1827, Abd-el-Kader was impressed by the reforms then being carried out by Mohammed Ali, and the knowledge he then gained affected his career. Mahi-ed-Din and his son returned to Mascara shortly before the French occupation of Algiers de stroyed the government of the Dey (July 1830). Coming f orward as the champion of Islam against the infidels, Abd-el-Kader was proclaimed amir at Mascara in 1832. In a short time he had rallied to his standard all the tribes of western Algeria. The story of his 15 years' struggle against the French is given under ALGERIA. Up to the beginning of 1842 the contest went in favour of the amir; thereafter he found in Marshal Bugeaud an opponent who proved, in the end, his master. Throughout this period Abd-el-Kader showed himself a born leader of men, a great soldier, a capable administrator, a persuasive orator, a chivalrous opponent. His ultimate failure was due in considerable measure to the refusal of the Kabyles, Berber mountain tribes whose Mohammedanism was somewhat loosely held, to make common cause with the Arabs against the French. On Dec. 21, Abd-el-Kader surrendered to General Lamoriciere at Sidi Brahim. On the 23rd, his submission was formally made to the duc d'Aumale, then governor of Algeria. In violation of the promise that he would be allowed to go to Alexandria or St. Jean d'Acre, Abd-el-Kader and his family were detained in France, where he remained until Oct. 1852, when he was released by Napoleon III. on taking an oath never again to disturb Algeria. The amir then lived in Brusa, removing in 1855 to Damascus. In July 186o, when the Muslims attacked the Christian quarters of Damascus, Abd-el-Kader saved large numbers of Christians.
When the Algerians revolted, Abd-el-Kader, in 1871, counselled submission to France. After 1847 he composed a philosophical treatise, of which a French translation was published in 1858 under the title of Rappel a l'intelligent, Avis a l'indifferent. He also wrote a book about the Arab horse. He died at Damascus on May 26, 1883.