ABD-EL-KADER IBN MOUHI AD-DIN, 'b'n (e. 1807-83). An Algerian ruler and patriot. lie was born near Mascara. and was educated under the super vision of his father at the Ghana. an educational institution of the Marabouts. His father, who was esteemed a very holy man, exercised great in fluence over 11 is countrymen, and bequeathed this influence to his son. In his eighth year Abd-el-Kader made a pilgrimage to Mecca with his father: and in 1827 he visited Egypt, where, in Cairo and Alexandria, he first came in contact with Western civilization. lie had a gifted mind, and a character marked by religions enthu siasm and a tendency to melancholy. He was free from cruelty and sensuality. lie studied in the chief schools of Fez, maintained the faith of his people, and used their fanaticism as one of his most important sources of influence. his public career began at the time of the conquest of Algiers by the French. No sooner was the power of the Turks broken, than the Arab tribes of the province of Oran seized the oppor tunity to make themselves independent. They obtained possession of Mascara and elected Abd el-Kader their emir. lie established his author ity over a number of the neighboring tribes. He attacked the French, and after blood' battles, fought on December 3, 1833. and Janu ary 6, 1834, against General Desmichels, then commanding in Oran, obliged the latter to enter into a treaty with him. In the interior of the country his power spread rapidly. The cities and tribes of the provinces of Oran and Titeri acknowledged him as their sultan: the more distant tribes sent him ambassadors with pres ents. Hostilities were soon resumed between him and the French. General Tr&el, at the head of a French army, was attacked at Makta, on June 28, 1835.11y nearly 20,000 Anib eavalry, and suffered a defeat. The tide turned. how ever, and after a struggle of six years Ahd-el Kader found himself obliged (1841) to take refuge in Morocco. There he succeeded in organ
izing a religious war against the enemies of Islam, and the arms of France were now turned against Morocco for the support given to him. After the decisive battle of Isly(1844) the Sultan of Morocco was obliged to give up Abd-el-Kader's cause, but soon found that the latter was at least his equal in power. The end of Abd-el-Kader's power, however, had come. On the night of December 11, 1847, he made a bold attack on the Moorish camp. in which he was defeated. Ile fled with his followers to Algeria, where the greater part surrendered to the French. Dis pirited, surrendered December 22. 1847, to (:eneral and the Due (FAumale. He was kept a prisoner with his family at Toulon, Pau, and the Chateau d'Amboise. Liberated in 1852 by Napoleon W., he liNed at Brussa, in Asia Minor, till 1855. He then, for a time, lived in Constantinople. and filially made his home in Damascus. For his services during the Syrian massacres of 1860 he received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Ifonor from Napoleon III. In I SI i5 he visited Paris and England. and was present at the Paris Exposition in 1867. In his retirement he wrote a religious work, a translation of which was pub lished at Paris in 1558, under the title, llappy/ it ['intelligent: aris ri l'indiVrent. Ile died in Damascus. May 26, 1883. Sec ALGERIA : consult C. 11. Churchill, The Life of A(inl-el-Kader I Lon don. 1867), described as "written from his own dictation and compiled from other authentic sources," highly eulogistic:. and in no sense a scientific biography: Lam:Main.. Fir. (trent arcs, combats. amours ut grist hil-cl-Karler (Paris, 1848) Bellemare, Abil-el-Knotur. sa vie politigue ct 1863).