History of Algeria

Kingdom of Numidia, 202–46 BCE Draft, not yet reviewed

Numidia was the ancient kingdom of the indigenous Numidian Berbers in Northwest Africa during the Hellenistic period. During the Second Punic War, Masinissa, king of the Massylii, defeated Syphax of the Masaesyli to unify Numidia into the first unified Berber state in North Africa. Initially an independent state and an ally of Rome, the kingdom later alternated between being a Roman province and a Roman client state.

Seat of power: Cirta

Regency of Algiers, 1516–1830 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Regency of Algiers was an early modern semi-independent Ottoman frontier province and vassal state on the Barbary Coast of North Africa from 1516 to 1830. It was founded by the privateer brothers Aruj and Hayreddin Reis, also known as the Barbarossa brothers. After the janissary coup of 1659, the Regency became a sovereign military republic, and its rulers were elected by the council known as the diwan rather than appointed by the Ottoman sultan. In 1830, France took advantage of domestic turmoil to invade, and the French conquest led to colonial rule until 1962.

Seat of power: Algiers

French Algeria, 1832–1962 Draft, not yet reviewed

French rule lasted from the beginning of the French conquest in 1830 until the end of the Algerian War, which resulted in Algeria gaining independence on 5 July 1962. Algeria was ruled as a colony from 1830 to 1848, and then as multiple departments of France after the implementation of the 1848 French Constitution. Algeria became a destination for hundreds of thousands of European settlers, who were first known as colons and later as pieds-noirs.

Seat of power: Algiers

Rulers

• Yves Chataigneau, Governor General of Algeria, 1944–1948

Algeria, 1962 to today Draft, not yet reviewed

Algeria gained independence in 1962 after the Algerian War, which broke out in 1954. It descended into a bloody civil war from 1992 to 2002. Algeria is the largest country in Africa, and its capital and largest city is Algiers.

Seat of power: Algiers

Rulers

• Ferhat Abbas, President of Algeria, 1962–1963
• Ahmad ibn Billah, President of Algeria, 1963–1965
• Houari Boumédiène, President of Algeria, 1965–1978
• Rabah Bitat, President of Algeria, 1978–1979
• Chadli Bendjedid, President of Algeria, 1979–1992
• Ali Kafi, President of Algeria, 1992–1994
• Mohamed Boudiaf, President of Algeria, 1992–1992
• Abdelmalek Benhabyles, President of Algeria, 1992–1992
• Liamine Zéroual, President of Algeria, 1995–1999
• Abd al-Aziz Boutafliqa, President of Algeria, 1999–2019
• Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of Algeria, 2019 to today
• Abd al-Qadir ibn Saleh, President of Algeria, 2019–2019