Mustapha Bouchelaghem

He worked hard to accumulate a large army mainly composed of thousands of Arab-Berber tribal levy.

In the same year his territory was invaded by the Moroccans during the Mascara campaign led by one of Moulay Ismail’s sons, during which his palace was looted, however this campaign resulted in a peace negotiation which infuriated Moulay Ismail causing him to direct another attempted invasion.

[4] In 1703 Spanish troops attacked the Beni Ameur tribe, which was loyal to Algiers, thus souring the relationship between the two countries.

In 1707, while Spain was preoccupied with the War of the Spanish Succession,[11] he with the help of Ouzoum Hassan a Commander directly from Algiers captured the fort of Saint-Philippe near Oran, thus beginning the siege.

[4][12] He moved his capital to Oran,[4] which he made a base for Barbary pirates, and constructed a small fleet to protect the town.

The new king achieved de facto independence from the Ottoman Empire,[13] and he started purging unloyal elements.