Whatever initial misgivings Louis Philippe's government may have had about occupying Algeria, the geopolitical realities of the situation created by the 1830 intervention argue strongly for reinforcing the French presence there.

France has reason for concern that Britain, which is pledged to maintain the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire, will move to fill the vacuum left by a French pullout.

The French devise elaborate plans for settling the hinterland left by Ottoman provincial authorities in 1830, but their efforts at state building are unsuccessful on account of lengthy armed resistance.

The most successful local opposition immediately after the fall of Algiers is led by Ahmad ibn Muhammad, bey of Constantine.

He initiates a radical overhaul of the Ottoman administration in his beylik by replacing Turkish officials with local leaders, making Arabic the official language, and attempting to reform finances according to the precepts of Islam.

After the French fail in several attempts to gain some of the bey's territories through negotiation, an ill-fated invasion force led by Bertrand Clauzel has to retreat from Constantine in 1836 in humiliation and defeat.

Nonetheless, the French capture Constantine the following year.