Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iri

Prince Abd al-Qadir ibn Muhyi al-Din al-Hasani al-Jaza'iri was a scholar and poet who led the struggle against the French in Algeria. ²

He was born at al-Qaytana, one of the villages of the province of Oran, and studied in Oran. He performed the pilgrimage with his father in 1241 AH, and visited Medina, Damascus and Baghdad. ²

When the French entered Algiers in 1246 AH, the Algerians gave him their allegiance and entrusted him with the command of the holy war (the French entry into Algiers), and he fought them for fifteen years. ² He struck coins which he called "al-Hamdiyya", and set up workshops for weapons, military equipment and soldiers' clothing. ²

He surrendered on terms in 1263 AH, and was exiled to Toulon and then Amboise, where Napoleon III visited him and released him on condition that he never return to Algeria. He then visited Paris and Istanbul, settled in Damascus in 1271 AH, and died there in 1883 CE. ²

His works include "Dhikra al-Aqil", a volume of poetry, and "al-Mawaqif" on Sufism. ²

• The dates of birth (1807 CE) and death are converted from the Hijri calendar and are derived; their attribution rests on the reference alone.