ORDER OF BATTLE // April 19, 1871
1871 Battle of the Col des Beni Aïcha
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 4,300 estimated
Kingdom of Ait Abbas
2,000
Medium-confidence figure
France
2,300
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of the Col des Beni Aïcha, fought on 19 April 1871, was an engagement of the Mokrani Revolt, the major Algerian uprising against French colonial rule that broke out in 1871. The battle brought together a substantial rebel force under a coalition of Cheikh commanders — Mokrani, Boumerdassi, Boushaki, and Zamoum — against a comparable French force drawn from multiple commands. The engagement reflects the scale of organized resistance during the revolt, with both sides committing forces in the low thousands. Beyond confirming that the uprising had mobilized significant leadership and manpower in the region, the recorded outcome and its consequences for the broader campaign are not documented in available sources.
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