Ahmed Bey

Hadj Ahmed Bey Ben Mohammed Chérif الحاج أحمد باي بن محمد شريف
Portrait of Ahmed Bey
Born	around 1784 Constantine, Regency of Algiers
Died	August 30, 1851(1851-08-30) (aged 65) Algiers, French Algeria
Nationality	Ottoman
Known for	Last bey of Constantine French conquest of Algeria Battle of Constantine Siege of Constantine

Ahmed Bey ben Mohamed Chérif, also known as Ahmed Bey or Hadj Ahmed Bey (Arabic: الحاج أحمد باي‎‎) (c. 1784 - c. 1850) was the last Ottoman Bey of Constantine, in the Regency of Algiers, ruling from 1826 to 1848. He was the successor of Mohamed Menamenni Bey ben Khan. As head of state, he led the local population in a fierce resistance to the French occupation forces. In 1837 the territory was conquered by the French, who reinstated the Bey as ruler of the region. He remained in this position until 1848, when the region became a part of the colony of Algiers and the Bey was deposed.

Ahmed Bey was born a "kouloughli" meaning he was born to a Turkish father and an Arab mother. Barely eighteen years old, the bey Abd Allah gave him the title of Caïd of the el Aouassi (Chief of Harakta tribes). Following the earthquake in the Blida region the dey, appointed him to Hunah el Kadous, around Algiers, and gives him the enjoyment of haouch Ouled Baba. Ahmed Bey engages in passions, such as hunting and the horses. From time to time he took part in several expeditions to protect the Ottoman troops, who were engaged against hostile Kabyle tribes such as the Beni Menad and the Beni Djenad. During his pilgrimage to Mecca which lasted fifteen months, from Egypt he met several famous people, including Muhammad Ali Pasha, his son Ibrahim Pasha and Toussoun Pasha.

Appointed bey of Constantine in 1826, he modernized the country focusing on the army. He led the Algerian resistance against the French occupation forces in the East of the Algeria with the aid of Hussein Pasha and, after the capture of Algiers, he retired in his province to Constantine. In 1832 he entrusted to his lieutenant Ben Aïssa the care for the population of Bône. He organized the defence of Constantine, Algeria, and lead several battles against the French army.