12 November 1509

“There is a Sadaqa to be given for every joint of the human body, and for every day on which the sun rises there is a reward of a Sadaqa for the one who establishes justice among people.” - Sahih al-Bukhari 7:65:286

Abu Abdallah V sat astride his horse, gazing down on the maze of streets that formed the Casbah and out to the sparkling waters of the mediterranean. Though he was born and raised in Tlemcen, this scene was familiar. Not two years ago he had led his army in these same hills against the Italians who had invaded Algiers. Their pomp and arrogance had allowed him to achieve stunning victory through the annihilation of their expedition and had cemented him as a famous King of the Maghrib. He would see to it personally that his name would be spoken for centuries to come, as the great king who had finally halted the Christian onslaught. To that end, he had hired a talented scribe to record his exploits at the head of a great Muslim army (for an extra fee, he was willing to embellish and cover the fact that Abdallah had been very much commanding from behind (10,000 civ florins)).

A gust of wind brought up the vibrant smells of the port below, raw fish, sea salt and the stench of sailors forming a stiff concoction in the Sultan’s nose. With the arrival of Venetian merchants the city had already begun to recover, the once hauntingly silent streets now showing cautious signs of inhabitants. Still though, the scars of war were visible. Long-abandoned and ransacked homes littered the roads, their occupants never to return. It was not uncommon to uncover remains in these houses, or in the fields around the city. Though recovery had begun, it would be a long time before the city returned to its former glory. However, the death of the city presented an opportunity to the Sultan: the opportunity to rebuild the city as a new, more amenable city of Tlemcen. To that end, it was time to spend his hard won treasure to solidify his hold over Algiers.

100,000f are to be spent on the construction of a state of the art citadel, resting atop the hills that overlook the Casbah. Included in the compound will be lavish gardens and a residence for the Sultan and a portion of his harem, should they visit. A further 50,000f will be spent to wall off the inner city, connecting the citadel with the port and creating an impressive fortification, far superior to the derelict Berber fort that had served the city previously. This building will be converted into the tax collector's office.

100,000f will be given to the Ulema to repair the Ketchaoua Mosque, as well as adding new inscriptions on its walls, describing the escapades of Abu Abdallah V during the liberation of the city and tapestries depicting the Muslims and Christians in battle. The Ulema will also be given custody of a memorial garden known as the Martyr's Garden, as a tribute to those fallen in the crusade.

25,000f will be spent on a governor’s residence, a leafy estate on the outskirts of the city with a lavish mansion, intricate gardens and an excellent view of the sea.

100,000f will be invested in repairing water, roads and port facilities, as well as grants to Muslims whose businesses were destroyed by the fighting.

There was also a silver lining to the Christian invasion. Algiers had long been ruled by the al-Thanis, a family who had successfully wielded popular opinion to defy the successive Sultans just enough to be a thorn in their side, but not enough to warrant getting deposed. During the siege of the city, Salim al-Thani had surrendered the city in just three days, dooming its inhabitants to slaughter. He himself had also presumably perished in the sacking, though no body was recovered. With this act, Salim had both destroyed his family’s reputation and contributed to their physical annihilation, leaving a blank slate from which Abdullah could build a new loyal administration. To that end, the Algiers Governing Council was created, featuring:

• Abu Zayan IV, the Sultan’s cousin, as the Vizier of Algiers

• Al-Qadi Aqib ibn Mahmud, council member for religious affairs

• Sidi Yahya ibn Muhammed, a high profile merchant

• Joseph ibn Naghrela, a prominent Jewish merchant

• Aksil ibn Izemrasen, a Berber lawyer

This council is bestowed with the powers of tax collection, legal enforcement and monitoring trade. The taxes will of course be delivered to the Sultan as a normal city would, and he is free to overrule the council when it is necessary. By choosing Abu Zayan IV, the Sultan is hoping to undermine any potential challenges to his rule from his kin. Abu Zayan is the second son of his father, meaning that his older brother will direct his jealousy and rivalry in his direction, misdirecting their attention to prevent either from scheming to take the throne. In an ideal scenario, the showering of Abu Zayan with sufficient gifts and power should also ensure his loyalty to Abu Abdallah V, especially as he has been parachuted into the city from Tlemcen and therefore has no local power base.

[M] Spending 235,000 civ florins on repairs and renovations in Algiers producing an epic tale of the embellished events. 150,000 mil florins on building better fortifications.