The Wilaya of Jijel ( 18 ) is a Algerian Territorial collectivity located at the east of the Kabylie, with a little more than 350 km of the capital Algiers. In Phénicien she says Igilgili .

History

The area of Jijel was the crossroads of several civilizations whose traces are here and there on its territory.

Period phenician

The name even of the city “Igilgili” finds its origin in the era pre-Roman. The prefix “I” refers in the toponyms Phéniciens with the existence of small islands on the littoral. While the radical “Gilgil” indicates a stone circle. However, of multiple names were allotted to the wire various occupations: Igilgilis, Djidjel, Djidjelli and finally Jijel.

Roman period

The foundation of the city towards the Life century before J.C is allotted to the Carthaginian, it takes the name of Igilgilis while becoming Roman colony under the emperor Auguste and belonging to the Mauritania Sétifienne at the time or the latter was detached from the first about the year 290.

The Ville was connected to the antique Saldae (Bejaia) by a transportation route. It had many maritime and terrestrial relations which contributed to its prosperity in IIIe and 4th century. Its port was the point of unloading of the Roman Troupes and of loading of corns of the Sétifienne area.

The progressive decline of the Roman Empire facilitated the release of the populations Berbères autochtones which recovered little by little their ancestral practices. One knows almost nothing the city in Ve and VIe century.

Byzantine period

The invasion Vandale (429) did not stop there. No vestige of the Life and VIIe century was found, but it is probable that at that time, the Byzantine (533) could occupy the city for the strategic intêret which it offered.

Moslem period

At the 7th Jijel century becomes Arab place dependant on Kairouan dominated by the dynasty of the Aghlabides. With Xe century, Kotamas, powerful Berber tribe of the south of Jijel was combined with the Fatimides and reversed the capacity of Kairouan (913) before settling with the Cairo.

After the departure of Fatimides, Jijel fell under successive control from the Zirides from Kairouan (973) then Hammadides from Béjaïa (1007) and finally under that from the Almohades in 1120.

Trade with the Italian republics

In 1145, the Normands ordered by Roger II unloaded in Jijel from where they were driven out in 1155, but the city did not cease receiving Western flow. The three large republics Italians of the time (Venice - Genoa - Pisa) amorçaient their maritime rebirth and traded with the port. In front of the anarchy of the Arab capacity, Pisans settle quickly supplanting the Génois which will remain until the reconquest day before by the Turks.

Turkish period

In 1514, Baba Arroudj (Barberousse) directs a fleet on Jijel, establishes there its general headquarter from which it delivers Béjaia of the Spanish domination in 1515 and leaves on the conquest Algiers in 1516. In 1611, the Spanish harassed by the processes with the Janissaire S Jijeliens which devastated their coasts sent under the orders of the marquis of Santa Cruz a fleet which set fire to Jijel. The city was taken again the year even.

In 1664, the July 23rd under the reign of Louis XIV, a French forwarding directed by the Duke of Beaufort, small son natural of Henri IV unloaded and took the city. Resistance was organized under the direction of the Aga Chabane and the French were driven out in October of the same year. Several were done prisoners. Some were repurchased by their families by paying a ransom. Others, which had not been repurchased remained like slaves and were freed thereafter and became highly skilled sailors and even took part with the race under the direction of the corsairs jijeliens.

French period

The May 13rd 1839, is 9 years after the catch of Algiers and two years after the catch of Constantine, the French troops unload in Jijel. Resistance to these troops was marked by the offensives carried out by lasting Jijeliens of the decades: 1841 - 1845 - 1847 and 1851. In 1871, the Décret Crémieux granting the naturalization of all the Juifs of Algeria involved the rising of all the population jijelienne. In repression with that, the near total of the insurgent douars (Blessed Foughal, Blessed Tafar etc) was off-set towards the extreme Is Country.

The commune of Djidjelli is created in 1860, it depended on the district of Candle and the Département of Constantine. In 1958, it is high with the row of sub-prefecture successively department of Candle then of Constantine.

In 1974, it is high with the row of Wilaya.

Geography

The wilaya is limited to North by the Mediterranean in the West by the Wilaya de Béjaïa, in the East by the Wilaya de Skikda, in South-west the Wilaya de Sétif, in the South by the Wilaya de Mila and finally in South-east by the Wilaya de Constantine.

The coastal plains of the area of Jijel are surrounded in the South by the reliefs of the Petite Kabylie. Topography is sub-plane on the level of the plain of the Mencha wadi and increases while progressing towards the south. The plain is located at north, along the littoral band energy of the small plains of Jijel, the plains of El-Aouana, the basin of Jijel, the valleys of Kébir Wadi, Oued Boussiaba and the small plains of Wadi Z' hour. Into this area, the mountain often falls to peak in the sea and forms a called very cut out coast Corniche jijelienne, where one admires courses, cliffs, almost islands and headlands. One finds there also very beautiful caves and still unexplored pits.

The catchment area culminates to 1.589 m of altitude with an average altitude of 406,02 Mr. the principal mountainous summits are: Tamazgida, Tababort, Seddat, Bouazza.

The vegetation of the catchment area is distinguished by a not very abundant forest cover made up in major part of cork oaks.

Climate

Like all the areas of the Algerian littoral, Wilaya de Jijel profits from a climate moderated with one soft winter characteristic of the Mediterranean zones and from a pluviometry of about 1.200 mm/an. It is among the most sprinkled areas Algeria.

It is also noted that with the collar of Texanna, which is located at 725 m of altitude, snowing up lasts more than 11 jours/an.

The dominant winds generally blow of the sea towards continent (NNW - SE).

Tourism

• Cornice and beaches of Djidjelli

• Seaside resort of Sid Abdelaziz
• Natural reserve of Taza (Blessed-Belaïd) (122 ha)
• Marvellous Caves of Ziama

See too

Related article

• Jijel, the city

External bonds

• Official site of the wilaya of Jijel