Charles X also sought to divert attention from turbulent French domestic affairs which culminated with his deposition during the later stages of the invasion in the July Revolution.

This resulted in a protracted military campaign, ultimately lasting more than 45 years, to root out popular opposition to the colonization.

The so-called "pacification" was marked by resistance from figures such as Ahmed Bey, Abd El-Kader, and Lalla Fatma N'Soumer.

The invasion marked the end of the centuries-old Regency of Algiers and the beginning of the colonial period of French Algeria.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the Kingdom of Algiers had greatly benefited from trade in the Mediterranean, and from the massive imports of food from France, largely bought on credit.

In an attempt to distract his people from domestic affairs, King Charles X decided to engage in a colonial expedition.

The ground was well-known, thanks to observations made during the First Empire, and the presque-isle of Sidi Ferruch was chosen as a landing spot, 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of Algiers.

[1] Furthermore several letters were sent to specific tribes whom were renown for their martial prowess throughout the country.“Good day to all the people of Kabylia and to all their notables and their marabouts.

Jihad is a duty imposed on us by religion, when the infidel is in our territory.”From a letter sent by Ibrahim Agha to several Kabyle tribes, such as the Ait Iraten.

[23][page needed] On the morning of 14 June 1830, the French Expeditionary Force composed of 34,000 soldiers divided in three divisions, started disembarking on the Sidi Ferruch Presque-isle.

[24] As the French were slowly disembarking their troops and equipment, Hussein Dey's three Beys, from Oran, Titteri and Medea, and various caids had answered the call to arms and started gathering forces in a large camp on the nearby plateau of Staoueli.

[29] As the 1st French division started marching toward them in column formation, Algerian forces retreated toward the village of Sidi Khalef at the edge of the plateau.

In the early morning of July 4, general De la Hitte, commander of the French artillery, ordered all batteries to open fire.

The fort's garrison, composed of about 800 janissaries and 1,200 Moors,[36] resisted for several hours despite the intense bombardment they were subjected to, a feat of courage that impressed the French.

[39] Out of the 2,000 men of the garrison, only half had survived and returned to the Casbah[35] With the fortress out of the picture, the city was now at the mercy of the French invasion force.

That after having burned all the public registers before suffering to read them, and having destroyed or dispersed all of the civil service without inquiring into their various attributions, he should finally seize every functionary⸺from the head of the government to the campesino guards, the peers, the deputies, and in general the whole ruling class⸺and deport them all at once to some distant country.

Do you not think that this great prince, in spite of his powerful army, his fortresses and his treasures, will soon find himself extremely unprepared in administering the conquered country; that his new subjects, deprived of all those who conducted or could conduct affairs of state, will be unable to govern themselves, while he, coming from the antipodes, knows neither the religion, nor the language, nor the laws, nor the habits, nor the administrative customs of the country, and who has taken care to remove all those who could have instructed him in them, will be in no state rule them.

You will therefore have no difficulty in foreseeing that if the parts of France which are materially occupied by the victor obey him, the rest of the country will soon be given over to an immense anarchy.