Razzia (military)

A razzia (from Arabic ghazwa, غَزْوَة, meaning raid or military expedition) is a military raid, traditionally a plundering expedition, often conducted by a force into enemy territory. The term became commonly used in the context of French colonial warfare, particularly in North Africa during the 19th century.

The purpose of a razzia was typically to seize livestock, crops, goods, and sometimes to capture people, both for enslavement or ransom. Beyond the immediate plunder, razzias were also intended to intimidate local populations, disrupt their economies, and weaken their capacity for resistance. They were a form of low-intensity warfare designed to maintain dominance and control.

In a broader sense, the term can also describe any sudden, destructive raid or attack, although the historical connotations of plunder and colonial context are generally present. While originally used to describe raids by Arab and Berber forces, the French employed similar tactics during their colonial campaigns, thus associating the term with their own military actions. The razzia was considered a legitimate, although brutal, tactic by both sides in many conflicts of the era.