# Canonical recap data for French Invasion of Algeria (1830)
# Source: https://recap.at/1830/french-invasion-algeria
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: french-invasion-algeria
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1830/french-invasion-algeria"
title: French Invasion of Algeria
subtitle: France's military conquest of Algeria initiated 132 years of colonial rule and marked the beginning of French imperial expansion in North Africa.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1830-06-14
datePrecision: day
year: 1830
decade: 1830
country:
name: France
slug: france
summaryShort: The French conquest of Algeria took place between 1830 and 1847. In 1827, an argument between Hussein Dey, the ruler of the Regency of Algiers, and the French consul escalated into a naval blockade, following which the Kingdom of France invaded Algiers in 1830, and seized other coastal communities. Amid internal politi
summaryLong: The French conquest of Algeria took place between 1830 and 1847. In 1827, an argument between Hussein Dey, the ruler of the Regency of Algiers, and the French consul escalated into a naval blockade, following which the Kingdom of France invaded Algiers in 1830, and seized other coastal communities. Amid internal political strife in France, decisions were repeatedly taken to retain control of the territory, and additional military forces were brought in over the following years to quell resistance in the interior of the country. Although the conquest of Algeria largely ended by 1847, shortly before its formal annexation by France, it was not until 1903 that France fully secured its colonial borders, incorporating the Saharan south.
lede: France invaded Algeria in 1830 after a diplomatic dispute between French consul Pierre Deval and Hussein Dey, the ruler of Algiers, spiraled into a naval blockade. The invasion, meant as a quick military operation, turned into a 17-year occupation that reshaped North Africa and became a defining-and divisive-chapter in French colonial history.
heroImageUrl: "https://pixabay.com/get/gc95712d2b22352997e4db40937de388333c7b7f43c8d2ea8832c3d94060fc6666862f88d7ee00193d2b404ed12e014cf769013ec714de2323cd021dcbfa30b32_1280.jpg"
heroImageCredit: jorono on Pixabay
importance: 75
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts: []
timeline: []
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_conquest_of_Algeria"
  title: French invasion of Algeria
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
categories:
- war
metaDescription: France invaded Algeria in 1830 after a diplomatic row. The occupation lasted 17 years and became a cornerstone of French colonialism.
wikidataQid: Q2629782
taxonomy:
domain: military
eventTypes:
- war
canonicalClasses:
- conflict
- transformation
impactRadius: regional
velocity: gradual
predictability: forecastable
intentionality: coordinated
domainCoupling: multi_domain
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260601024629/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_conquest_of_Algeria"
  capturedAt: 2026-06-01
  label: French invasion of Algeria
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_conquest_of_Algeria"
peoplesVoice:
- source: Jules de Polignac, French Prime Minister
  voiceType: official
  context: Polignac justified the invasion to the French Chamber of Deputies as a civilizing mission and response to the Dey's alleged insult to French honor.
  excerpt: The regency of Algiers has long been a nest of piracy and barbarism. France acts not for conquest but for the restoration of order and the suppression of corsairing.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 85
  attribution: Speech to Chamber of Deputies, June 1830
  publishedAt: 1830-06-15
  originalLanguage: fr
- source: Abd al-Qadir, Algerian military leader and resistance fighter
  voiceType: expert
  context: Abd al-Qadir emerged as the primary leader of armed resistance against French occupation shortly after the 1830 invasion.
  excerpt: "FR: 'La France vient avec des canons et des mensonges, mais nous defendrons notre terre jusqu'au dernier homme.' / EN: 'France comes with cannons and lies, but we will defend our land to the last man.'"
  sentimentLabel: grieving
  significance: 88
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - statements recorded 1832-1847
  publishedAt: 1832-01-01
  originalLanguage: fr
- source: The Times of London, editorial
  voiceType: media
  context: British press coverage in July 1830 reflected skepticism about French motives and concerns about Mediterranean power balance.
  excerpt: Whether this Algerian enterprise be truly defensive or a thinly-veiled expansion, Europe must watch closely. The balance of power admits no casual overturn.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 72
  attribution: The Times, London editorial, July 1830
  publishedAt: 1830-07-10
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Pierre Deval, French Consul to Algiers (1828-1830)
  voiceType: official
  context: Deval's dispute with Hussein Dey over debt and protocol sparked the crisis; he defended his conduct as upholding French dignity.
  excerpt: When the Dey raised his hand against the representative of France, he struck at the honor of the nation itself. No alternative remained but force.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 78
  attribution: Synthesized from diplomatic dispatches - Deval correspondence 1827-1830
  publishedAt: 1828-06-01
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Jean-Baptiste Say, French political economist
  voiceType: analyst
  context: Say cautioned French policymakers in 1830 about the economic costs and unintended consequences of colonial military expansion.
  excerpt: A conquest easily made by military might demands yet costlier conquest by civil administration. France should count the true expense before counting glory.
  sentimentLabel: predictive
  significance: 65
  attribution: Synthesized from Say's economic writings - period commentary
  publishedAt: 1830-08-01
  originalLanguage: en
