Kingdom of Kuku

Sultanate of Kuku
Tagelda n Kuku
Kingdom
Tribal confederation
1515–c.1638[1]
Capital Kuku
Languages Kabyle language
Religion Sunni Islam
Political structure Kingdom
Tribal confederation
Sultan
   1510–1527 Sidi Ahmed ou el Kadhi
History
   Established 1515
   Disestablished c.1638[1]
Today part of  Algeria

The Kingdom of Koukou[1] was a Kabyle kingdom founded in c.1515[1] which ruled over much of greater Kabylia, extend from the Atlas to the South of the plain of Algiers; the city and capital of Cuco was placed on a rock, it had around 15,000 souls. The kingdom could bring 5,000 musqueteers and 1,500 horses to the battefield.

It was one of two major Kabyle kingdoms, the other being the Kingdom of Ait Abbas.

History

Establishment

During the Ottoman period, the two parts of Kabylia were independent and retained the use of their language and customs under the Kingdom of Kuku and of the Ait Abbas. The conflict weren't only between the Spanish empire and the Ottoman, but also with local kingdoms such as the so-called "kings of Kouko" in Kabylia.[2]

Alliance and wars (Ottoman, Beni Abbès, France..)

Ali Bitchin who wanted to control Regency of Algiers made an alliance with Koukou, and had bodyguard, cavalry from there. The sultan of Koukou became his father in law.

In popular culture

A poem from the Australian Kenneth Slessor is about the King of Kuku.[3]

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hugh Roberts, Berber Government: The Kabyle Polity in Pre-colonial Algeria, (I.B. Tauris, 2014), 165.
  2. Choueiri, Youssef M. (2008-04-15). A Companion to the History of the Middle East. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781405152044.
  3. Stewart, Douglas (1964-01-01). Modern Australian Verse. University of California Press.
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