Expedition to Touat (1557)

The Expedition to Touat was a campaign led by the Saadi dynasty and commanded by the governor of Sijilmasa with the aim of establishing Saadi rule in the region, however the expedition was defeated.^[2][1][3][4]

The Saadians led a number of expeditions to Touat led by caïds. Aware of the economic significance of the region, they first attempted to establish rule there peacefully, however this was unsuccessful.^[4] As a result, the Saadians decided to use force, first dispatching the Saadi princes Moulay Zaydan and al-Nasir in 1552.^[4] This expedition was defeated in the Battle of Kaberten by the people of Touat and the caïd Ahmed ben Amor Et-Tamentiti was able to rule over the region independently.^[5][6] In 1557 another attempt was made by the Saadi dynasty.^[7]

In 1555 Mohammed al-Shaykh, the reigning Saadi sultan, entered into negotiations with the Spanish in order to form an alliance against the Regency of Algiers.^[8] In 1557 he led a campaign against Tlemcen and at the same time he targeted Touat and dispatched the governor of Sijilmasa, Abu Abdullah Muhammad, to command a campaign in order to occupy the region.^[3][2] The people of Touat resisted and refused to surrender, they refused to be annexed to the Saadi sultanate as they wished to maintain autonomy and a connection to the Caliphate in Algeria.^[1][3][4] The rulers of the Regency of Algiers led a campaign to Touat in order to break the siege imposed by the Saadians.^[1] The forces of the Regency of Algiers thwarted the Saadian campaign and defeated it, as a result the Saadian campaign was a failure and the governor of Sijilmasa was forced to return empty handed.^[2][1][3]