The Defensive System of Algiers (1516–1830) and the Role of the Hydraulic System in its Composition
The Defensive System of Algiers (1516–1830) and the Role of the Hydraulic System in its Composition

Summary/Abstract: Algiers, also known as “the protected by God” and “the well-guarded”, earned these epithets during the Ottoman regency. These names signify Algiers’defensive and, at times, resistant posture against diverse attacks. The city’s ability to withstand such challenges is attributed to its defensive system, comprising citadel, walls, forts, and batteries, forming an extensive and interconnected network. With its fortified structures, Algiers serves as an exemplar of a historical millennium-old implantation system.Within this system, fortifying vulnerable points was not the sole rationale for selecting the locations of these structures. Even when forts were not situated near water sources, efforts were made to supply them with water by installing pipelines or aqueducts, recognizing the crucial role of constant water availability for the survival of fortifications.This study aims to establish a correlation between the proximity of water sources and the positioning of fortifications. The research achieves this objective by examining the plans of both the hydraulic and defensive systems of Algiers during the Ottoman era, utilizing various documents from the archives of the same period.

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