Battle of Khenchela (1838)

After the French conquest of Constantine in October 1837, Ahmed Bey refused to surrender and retreated into the Aurès Mountains, where he continued his struggle against French forces. He sought to regroup his supporters, mainly composed of local Arab and Berber tribes, and launched a series of guerrilla-style attacks on French outposts and supply lines.

The French, determined to eliminate remaining resistance in eastern Algeria, launched military campaigns into the Aurès Mountains to capture Ahmed Bey and secure full control over the region. In 1838, one of these expeditions led to a major engagement near Khenchela.

The Battle of Khenchela in 1838 unfolded as part of Ahmed Bey’s continued resistance against French expansion following the fall of Constantine. Aware of the strategic importance of Khenchela, Ahmed Bey and his forces fortified their positions in the rugged terrain of the Aurès Mountains, preparing for an inevitable confrontation. The French, determined to dismantle his remaining strongholds, launched a well-coordinated offensive, deploying infantry and cavalry units supported by artillery. As French troops advanced, they encountered fierce resistance from Ahmed Bey’s men, who utilized their knowledge of the terrain to stage ambushes and counterattacks. The battle raged on with intense skirmishes, but the superior firepower and discipline of the French forces gradually overwhelmed the defenders. After sustaining heavy casualties, Ahmed Bey’s army was forced to withdraw, allowing the French to capture Khenchela. Though a tactical victory for France, the battle reinforced the persistence of Algerian resistance, as Ahmed Bey continued his struggle against colonial rule in the following years.

Although the French won the battle, Ahmed Bey continued his resistance fore another decade, refusing to submit until his final surrender in 1848. The battle demonstrated the resilience of local resistance fighters and their ability to challenge the French despite their technological disadvantage. The Aurès Region remained a stronghold of defiance, later playing a key role in Algeria’s nationalist struggles in the 20th century.

• Ahmed Bey of Constantine
• French conquest of Algeria
• Battle of Constantine (1837)
• Battle of Constantine (1836)

• Ruedy, John. Modern Algeria: The Origins and Development of a Nation. Indiana University Press, 2005.
• Julien, Charles-André. History of North Africa: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco. Praeger, 1970.
• Bennoune, Mahfoud. The Making of Contemporary Algeria: Colonial Upheavals and Post-Independence Development. Cambridge University Press, 1988.