Emir Abdelkader

Abd al-Qadir ibn Muhyi al-Din, known as the Emir Abdelkader or Abd al-Qadir al-Hassani al-Jaza'iri, was an Algerian religious and military leader who led a struggle against the French colonial invasion of Algiers in the early 19th century. As an Islamic scholar and Sufi who unexpectedly found himself leading a military campaign, he built up a collection of Algerian tribesmen that for many years successfully held out against one of the most advanced armies in Europe. His consistent regard for what would now be called human rights, especially as regards his Christian opponents, drew widespread admiration, and a crucial intervention to save the Christian community of Damascus from a massacre in 1860 brought honours and awards from around the world. Within Algeria, he was able to unite many Arab and Berber tribes to resist the spread of French colonization. His efforts to unite the country against French invaders led some French authors to describe him as a "modern Jugurtha", and his ability to combine religious and political authority has led to his being acclaimed as the "Saint among the Princes, the Prince among the Saints".

6 September 1808

Born on the same birth day (6 September): Andrés Tello • Arthur Oldham • Bud Shrake • Buster Bloodvessel • Demetris Kizas • Dylan Bruno • Foxy Brown (rapper) • Freya Allan • Heinrich Häberlin • Marina Kaljurand • Mathew Horne • Matt McAndrew • May Jordan McConnel • Mel McDaniel • Michaëlle Jean • Milan Lukić • Prince Claus of the Netherlands • Ryoko Tani • Susumu Tonegawa • Walter Giesler • William Lane

Born in the same month (September 1808): Henry Bennett (American politician)