In 1830, in the days before the outbreak of the July Revolution against the Bourbon Restoration in France, the conquest of Algeria was initiated by Charles X as an attempt to increase his popularity amongst the French people.

Afterwards Algeria would become a territory within the French colonial empire from 1830 to 1962, under a variety of governmental systems.

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) Shortly after the July Monarchy of Louis Philippe I was overthrown in the Revolution of 1848, the new government of the Second Republic ended Algeria's status as a colony and declared it in the 1848 Constitution an integral part of France.

Three civil departements — Alger, Oran, and Constantine — were organized under a civilian government.

For continuation after independence, see: List of heads of state of Algeria