HISTORY OF ALGERIA

The revolt of Sheikh Bouziane 1848-1849

At that time, although the Emir Abd El-Kader had established agreements including the Treaty of Tafna with the French forces in 1847 and the Bey of Constantine, Ahmed Bey, a refugee in the Aurès massif from 1837 to 1848, it did not completely put an end to the revolts.

The Revolt of Sheikh Bouziane is also known as the „Zaatcha Revolt“ in reference to the siege established by French Army around Zaatcha (South-East of Algeria located at 30 Km from Biskra). Following an attempted kidnapping, Sheikh Bouziane declared a holy war against the French army which resulted in several battles and a siege of Zaatcha that lasted 52 days when the French army had lost more than 1,500 men (dead and wounded).

All the inhabitants of Zaatcha were massacred, without exception, including women and children. Sheikh Bouziane and his lieutenants were captured, executed and their heads exposed on the market square in Biskra, to deter any attempt of insurgency in the region.