Learn about the only country in the world that has witnessed ten historical capitals
Algeria has witnessed more than 10 capitals throughout history, resulting in an amazing and unique cultural diversity in the world
Algeria is distinguished from other countries..let’s get acquainted with it:
Constantine (Cirta): capital of the Kingdom of Numidia
It was founded in the year 202 BC after the restoration of Masinissa, son of King Gaia to his father’s kingdom, and the restoration of the city of Cirta (present-day Constantine) from King Syphax, who seized it before the year 205 BC, taking advantage of the death of Gaia and making Cirta his capital.
Ain Temouchent (Sika): The capital of the Western Numidia kingdom
Syphax, or Syphax, or Syphax, or Sfk according to Ibn Khaldun, was one of the first Berber kings who worked to unite the Numidia population. King Syphax has lived in the third century BC. Almazesolah and belongs to a family that was native to the Western Numidia. He became its property, and took Siqah as his capital, or what is now called in Algeria as Ain Temouchent.
Cherchell: The Caesarea capital of Mauritania
It is one of the Numidian kingdoms that belonged to Rome. It was called Mauretania Caesarea after Caesarea, the capital of the kingdom (the city of Cherchell today). It extended to the north of Algeria, now bordered to the east by Ifriqiya (Tunisia) and the Kingdom of Numidia to the east of Algeria, and to the west of Mauritania Tangiers (currently northern Morocco).
Tiaret (Tehrt): Capital of the Rustumiya State
Tiaret or Tahert (Berber: Tahert or Tihert; ⵜⴰⵀⴻⵔⵜ, meaning “the lioness”; Tiaret). It was the capital of the Rustamiya state that ruled Algeria from the late eighth century AD to the early tenth century AD.
Medea (said): capital of the Zirid state, the first capital
It was founded by Ziri bin Manad in 324 / AH corresponding to 939 AD. The credit for handing over the reins of power to the Fatimid Caliph, who allowed him to consolidate his power, so he chose the city of Asher to be the capital of his kingdom, which was an impregnable fortress and a repository of equipment as it was full of enormous wealth. The founder of the Zirid state contented himself with a small space at the top of a rock.
Al-Masila (the Citadel): The capital of the Hammadid state, the first capital
The Bani Hammad Citadel is located in Al-Ma’adid, north-east of the Wilayat of M’sila, in Algeria, 36 km away. It was the first capital (before Bejaia) of the Hammadid-Sinhajian state, which reached its zenith in the eleventh century. These ruins are located at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level and are surrounded by the Hudna Mountains, which form a background Suitable for castle
Bejaia: The capital of the Hammadid state, the second capital
During the era of the Hammadids; After Al-Nasir bin Alnas built a large city in it, he called it “Al-Nasiriyah” after his name. The city continued to bear this name until the fall of the Hammadid era (1152 AD).
Tlemcen: the capital of the Zayan state
The Zayanite state or the Banu Zayan, and they are the Banu Abd al-Wad, and the origin of the Zayanites goes back to one of the tribes or ethnic groups of Berber origin, which extended their influence in Algeria in the period between 1235-1554 AD, and they took Tlemcen, nicknamed the Pearl of the Maghreb, as their capital.
Mascara: The first capital of the state of Prince Abdul Qadir
Al-Zamalah is the name of the capital of Emir Abdul Qadir, but it was not a capital, as it is known, in which buildings, streets, and urban and cultural landmarks. The “Zamala” was a group of very many tents distributed in the form of circles, and in each tribe a circle. The most important thing that distinguishes this capital is that it is not fixed in a specific geographical location, but rather is mobile, and the reason that prompted the Emir to invent this organization is to prevent France from overthrowing it, considering the capital a symbol of any country, and the Emir calculated for this matter his account in his sprawling country from western Algeria to its middle.
Algiers: The capital of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
The city of Algiers was called Ikosium in the time of the Phoenicians, when he was the first to establish the city.
