On 31 January 1830, the Polignac government decided to send a military expedition to Algeria to end the threat of Algerian pirates to Mediterranean trade, hoping also to increase his government's popularity through a military victory. The pretext for the war was an outrage by the Viceroy of Algeria, who had struck the French consul with the handle of his fly swat in a rage over French failure to pay debts from Napoleon's invasion of Egypt. French troops occupied Algiers on 5 July.Price, pp. 136–138.
on 31 january 1830 the polignac government decided to send a military expedition to algeria to end the threat of algerian pirates to mediterranean trade hoping also to increase his government's popularity through a military victory the pretext for the war was an outrage by the viceroy of algeria who had struck the french consul with the handle of his fly swat in a rage over french failure to pay debts from napoleon's invasion of egypt french troops occupied algiers on 5 julyprice pp 136–138