The French army, “landing in June 1830,” easily overpowered the forces of the “dey.” But this success brought France only a small region round Algiers. The city of Constantine holds out “against the French for seven years.” In the meantime the invading force was also under threat from the strong amir of Mascara, Abd-el-Kader. “In 1839 Abd-el-Kader proclaimed a jihad, or holy war,” against the Christian intruders. He finally surrendered in1847. He was promised a safe conduct to a Muslim country. Instead he spent “the next five years in French gaols.” With Algeria under a reasonable degree of control though rebellions “continue until the 1880s,” the French government started the process of colonization. European settlement was actively encouraged.
