Dhouaouda
# Dhouaouda

Dhouaouda (Arabic: الذواودة) is an Arab tribe that lives mainly in the high plains in eastern Algeria. They primarily live around Biskra and Constantine.

## Origins

Dhaouaouda are an Arab tribe, they are descended from Banu Riyah, a branch of the Arab Bedouin tribe of Banu Hilal which migrated to the Maghreb in the 11th century.

## History

After the tribes of Banu Hilal penetrated into the Maghreb, Dhouaouda established its own emirate in 1179 under emir Abu Serhan bin Sultan. It set its capital at Biskra and controlled a large area from the Ziban to Setif to Constantine region, and controlled the trade route to Touggourt in the south. Being the most powerful tribe of Ifriqiya, they controlled half of the cities located in the trays. They defeated a Hafsid incursion in the 13th century. In 1541, Dhouaouda signed the Pact of Barbarossa with the Ottomans, and the emir of Biskra Ali bin Sakhri pledged allegiance to the Ottoman Empire. Ali took the title 'Shaykh al-Arab'. In the 16th century, contingents of Arab tribesmen were sent from Biskra to Algiers to support the Ottomans in their war with Spain.

## Arab revolt in Algeria

In 1637, Murad Bey invited Shaykh al-'Arab Si Mohamed Sakhri Ben Bou Okkaz and his notable principals to visit him in Constantine, Muray Bey would eventually kill Cheikh Al Arab Si Mohammed, his son and all of his principals after accusing them of treason and asking the Dey of Algiers and his Diwan about how he should deal with them, it is believed that Shaykh al-'Arab was killed to reduce the influence of Dhoaouda in eastern Algeria, since they controlled most of eastern Algeria by that time and most of its production (along side with their allies and Makhzen tribes such as Ahl Ben Ali, Ghamra, Ouled Nail, Hrakta and others). One year later, in 1638 Si Ahmed Ben Al Sakhri Bou Akaaz revolted alongside the Beni Abbas Kingdom in the north (Kabyles) who allied after realizing that they share the same interest, retaining their influence in the region and expelling Murad Bey, leading troops from the Ahl ben Ali, Ghamra, Shorfa, Hrakta, Ouled Nail, and all the allied/Makhzen tribes following the Dhouaouda Emirate. Si Sakhri started a major revolt, starting from the Zab Region (Biskra/Sidi Khaled) and reaching the borders of Algiers in the north and Tunisia in the east.

### Battle of Guidjel

This battle was the most important event in the war, it led to the victory of the rebel coalition and the Beylik of Constantine lost control over the area for the next 9 years. The revolting troops were mainly composed of Allied/Makhzen tribes, including Dhaouaouda and Beni Abbas, who weren't trained and didn't own such modern equipment.

Compared to the Ottoman troops, who got support From Algiers and had the most developed rifles and cannons in the region, this made the Turks think that they'll destroy the revolting army easily, not knowing that thousands of cavalry men were on their way to take revenge for their old leader. Arabs and Kabyles being led By Si Sakhri ( Shaykh al-'Arab) and Betka el-Moqrani, Turks being led By Murad Bey and Qaid Youssef/Hadj Chabane who were sent by the day of Algiers with 4,000 soldiers, with 200 kheimas (tents), every tent containing 20 soldiers (reaching a total of 6,000 troops for the Ottoman side), by the end of the day of 20 September 1638, the Turkish army was crushed and destroyed leading into a decisive victory for the Arabs and anarchy in Beylik of Constantine for the next 9 years. Murad Bey went missing after that (although some sources mention that he fled to Annaba and traveled to Algiers later).

Eventually both sides signed a white peace and the turks changed their policy with Arabs into ''divide and conquer'' weakening the Emirs and tribal leaders by helping founding smaller tribes and securing the loyalties of tribes to the Dey of Algiers and not to their Shaykh as it used to be.

