Napoléon et l'Algérie, 1802-1808
Gérard Buttoud
Publication: Paris: L’Harmattan, 2024
Description: 193 p
ISBN: 9782336462592Publication: Paris: L’Harmattan, 2024
Description: 193 p
ISBN: 9782336462592
Abstract
"Sous la Révolution puis sous l'Empire, la régence d'Alger reste l'un des seuls alliés de la France, qui doit faire face à la coalition des nations européennes. Bonaparte reproche à ce curieux ami de ne pas le considérer à sa juste valeur, c'est-à-dire au plus haut, et prend prétexte de récentes prises corsaires de bateaux italiens pour menacer le dey d'envahir sa ville. En 1802 d'abord. Puis en 1808, lorsqu'un plan d'attaque détaillé est même établi. Pour après ne rien faire, comme tout le monde avant lui. Pour ne pas dégarnir les fronts guerriers d'Europe, dit-on. Peut-être que le rêve oriental de Napoléon de passer en Inde par 1'Egypte implique qu'on s'approvisionne en blé algérien, et donc qu'on fasse la paix avec les Barbaresques. Peut-être aussi qu'il n'y a tout simplement rien à gagner à y aller. Avec Alger, le mieux est de s'accommoder de relations difficiles, pour être plus sûr d'en écarter les Anglais. Avant que la France ne l'envahisse en 1830 en se servant justement du plan d'attaque de l'Empire, l'Algérie reste un allié ambigu et encombrant, mais qu'il vaut encore mieux supporter qu'essayer de battre."
The Regency of Algiers, or the History of the forgotten past of a slave (blacks africans and white europeans) and naval islamic terrorist Arabo-Turkish State...
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TO THE DEY OF ALGIERS.
Paris, 29 Messidor Year X (July 18, 1802).
To the very high and very magnificent Dey of Algiers.
May God preserve him in prosperity and glory!
I am writing this letter to you directly, because I know that there are some of your ministers who are deceiving you, and who are leading you to behave in a way that could bring great misfortunes upon you.
This letter will be delivered to you personally by an adjutant of my palace. Its purpose is to ask you for prompt reparation, and such as I have the right to expect from the feelings you have always shown for me.
A French officer was beaten in the harbor of Algiers by one of your reis; the agent of the Republic asked for satisfaction and was unable to obtain it.
Two war brigs were captured by your corsairs, who brought them to Algiers and delayed them in their voyage. A Neapolitan ship was captured by your corsairs in the harbor of Hyères, and in this way they violated French territory. Finally, from the ship that ran aground this winter on your coasts, I am still missing more than 150 men, who are in the hands of the barbarians.
I ask you for compensation for all these grievances, and, not doubting that you will take all the measures that I would take in similar circumstances, I am sending a ship to take back to France the 150 men I am missing.
Bonaparte
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TO CITIZEN TALLEYRAND,
MINISTER OF FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Paris, 29 Messidor Year X (July 18, 1802).
The regencies of Algiers and Tunis, Citizen Minister, do not have for the flag of the Republic that deep respect and consideration that it is my intention that they have. I am sending the adjutant of the palace Hulin, with a letter, to the dey of Algiers. I wish that three warships
and a frigate go immediately in the front of Algiers, to conduct themselves according to the circumstances. These vessels are those referred to in the decree that I sent you several days ago.
Two other warships and two frigates will be in the harbor of Toulon, ready to leave at the end of Thermidor. These are the vessels of which you have already taken note.
Five other warships and two frigates will be sent, immediately, from the Ocean to the Mediterranean, from where I desire that they leave before the 10th of Fructidor. If they cannot leave at once, they will leave in two squadrons. They will present themselves before Algiers in enough time to make it known that these are not the same vessels that have already presented themselves, and from there will come to Toulon.
By this means, I expect that we will have in the Mediterranean ten warships and five frigates, in the current of Fructidor, ready to act according to circumstances.
The three vessels and the frigate intended for Algiers will go in the front of this place. They will anchor in such a way as not to be under the cannon of the forts and to be masters of their movements. If the adjutant of the Hulin palace goes on board them, they will put him ashore immediately; if, on the contrary, he has left on a frigate or a corvette, they will inform him of their arrival; as well as citizen Thainville, agent of the Republic. If it happened that the Dey had behaved badly towards the agent or the officer, and that he had refused to give the satisfaction requested of him, they will blockade the harbor and cruise off Algiers, seizing all Algerian corsairs who fall into their hands, taking care to immediately warn Toulon.
Bonaparte