| Muhammad V | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dey of Algiers | |||||
| 18thDey ofAlgiers | |||||
| Reign | 1766 – 1791 | ||||
| Predecessor | Baba Ali Bou Sebaa | ||||
| Successor | Sidi Hassan | ||||
| Born | 1710 Karamania | ||||
| Died | 12 July 1791(1791-07-12) (aged 80–81) Algiers,Regency of Algiers | ||||
| Issue | Sidi Hassan (Adopted son, nephew) Brahim ben Mohammed (Son) Mustapha ben Brahim (Grandson) | ||||
| |||||
| Country | Regency of Algiers | ||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||
| Occupation | Dey | ||||
| Military career | |||||
| Conflicts | Spanish–Algerian war (1775–1785) Danish–Algerian War Algerian-American War (1785-1795) | ||||
Baba Mohammed ben-Osman orMuhammad V ben Osman wasDey of theDeylik of Algiers from 1766 to 1791 and the adoptive father ofBaba Hassan Pacha and the grandfather ofMustapha Pacha. He declared war againstDenmark–Norway because Denmark-Norway refused his demands for an increased annual payment to stave off piracy, and new gifts, which began theDanish-Algerian War.[1] He also declaredwar against the United States in 1785 and captured several American ships. The war ended in 1795 when the U.S concluded a treaty with his successor that paid $21,600 annually to Algiers.[2][3]
He was of Turkish origin.[4] Not much is known about his early life. According to a French source, he was born, and was raised in a village inKaramania, where he was recruited into theOdjak of Algiers.[5]
Having learned to read and write, he became akhodja (secretary) after having bought his state office for the sum of 1000 pieces. He practiced with various garrisons before being promoted to the personal guard of the dey's palace Then he becameKhaznadji (Prime Minister and Treasurer) of DeyBaba Ali who then designated him as his successor.[6]
He succeeded DeyBaba Ali in 1766. Spain tried to establish peace with the Regency, but these negotiations resulted only in an exchange of captives between November 1768 and February 1769.[7][unreliable source?] Mohamed Ben Osman declared war onDenmark-Norway in 1770 and repulsed a Danish attack on Algiers in 1772,[8] and notably imposed on United Kingdom, the United States and theKingdom of the Two Sicilies a system of maritime tribute.[9] However, following this period of calm, the Algerian corsair activities intensified and caused distress on the southern shores of Spain and partially disrupted its maritime traffic. The Spanish were therefore trying theLimpieza del Mar operation to try to end this corsair presence in theWestern Mediterranean, without success. In 1775,Alejandro O'Reilly was sent to the head of anarmada to take Algiers. Dey Mohamed Ben Othmane inflicted a heavy defeat in the vicinity ofEl Harrach. In 1776, he appointed asWakil al Kharadj (Minister for Foreign Affairs),Sidi Hassan who with his counterpart Floridablanca opened a period of rapprochement between the governments of Algiers and Madrid.[7]
However peace with Spain was not to the advantage of the dey; piracy earned it a lot of income and asking for the release of a captive might even be perceived in Algiers as a humiliation. With the diplomacy over, he found a pretext for the lack of peace between theOttoman Empire and Spain, and invited the latter to make peace with the Empire before negotiating with himself to save time and avoid asking for peace in Spain. In fact, the Ottoman Sultan categorically refused to interfere in the affairs of the regencies, which he "considered as independent states".[7] The Spaniards finally got afirman (a recommendation) to the Regencies of North Africa, that the dey Mohamed Ben Othmane had already planned to reject. Indeed, apart from the spiritual connection (the Ottoman sultan was consideredcaliph and possessor of the holy places of Islam), at the time of Mohamed Ben Othmane, the Regency managed its internal and external affairs independently.[7]
But KingCharles III of Spain decided to declare war again. He sent squads to bomb Algiers between 1783 and 1784. Having found that theSublime Porte had no authority over Algiers, the Madrid cabinet sought a direct way to negotiate peace. The negotiations were difficult, but on June 16, 1785, a peace agreement was concluded. Dey Mohamed Ben Othmane demanded in the peace talks a compensation of 1,000,000pesos for the various expeditions.[10] The members of thediwân of Algiers (assembly) also obtained the attribution of the present diplomats.[7]
On a national level, his reign, the longest of all the deys, was marked by stability. In the management of the affairs he manifested a great sense of the state.[8] He was busy recoveringOran andMers el Kebir under Spanish tutelage. He appointed an energetic Bey in the west,Mohamed el Kebir, whom he instructed to take these two places.[10] He also carried out successful campaigns to pacify the hinterland.[9] He was also able to face the rise ofConstantinois where he named another illustrious BeySalah Bey ben Mostefa in 1771.[8] He died on July 12, 1791, and was replaced by hisKhaznadji (Prime Minister) and his adopted sonSidi Hassan.[10]
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