Dey

Dey (Arabic داي, maternal uncle ', from Turkish Dayı ) a ruler title in Algeria and Tunisia since the 16th century.

The title Dey was originally a designation for a commander of the Ottoman Janissaries. He also found in the Barbary States Algeria and Tunisia since the 16th century use, as these countries were under Ottoman suzerainty. Originally, the Sultan had the governor / Pasha used in Istanbul in Algeria and Tunisia. But soon put the Janissaries and the Corsairs a Dey as head of government, which were only formally confirmed by the Ottomans.

The choice of the Dey was on lifetime. However, they a council of the officers of the Janissaries was set aside.

As a result of power struggles many Deys were overthrown. Half of the Dey in Algeria 1671-1830 came as a violent death. In Tunis, the Dey have been superseded by the 1640 Muradiden - Bey (see: Tunisia).