Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad
Encyclopedia
Beni Hammad Fort, also called Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad is a ruined, fortified palatine city in Algeria
. It served as the first capital of the Hammadid
dynasty. It is located in the mountains northeast of M'Sila
, at an elevation of 1,418 meters, and receives abundant water from the surrounding mountains. Beni Hammad Fort is near the town of Maadid
(aka Maadhid), about 225 km southeast of Algiers
, in the Maghreb
.
In 1980, it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site
by UNESCO
, and described as "an authentic picture of a fortified Muslim city".
The town includes a 7 km-long line of walls. Inside the walls are four residential complexes, and the largest mosque built in Algeria after that of Mansurah. It is similar to the Grand Mosque of Kairouan, with a tall minaret (20 m).
Excavations have brought to light numerous terracotta, jewels, coins and ceramics testifying to the high level of civilization under the Hammadid
dynasty. Also among the artifacts discovered are several decorative fountains using the lion as a motif.
The remains of the emir's palace, known as Dal al-Bahr, include three separate residences separated by gardens and pavilions.
, the son of Buluggin ibn Ziri
, the founder of Algiers
. The city became the capital of the Hammadid
Berber
s, and sustained a siege from the Zirid
army of Morocco in 1017.
In 1090 it was abandoned under the menace of the Banu Hilal
, and was partly destroyed by the Almohads in 1152.
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. It served as the first capital of the Hammadid
Hammadid
The Hammadids were a Berber dynasty who ruled an area roughly corresponding to north-eastern modern Algeria for about a century and a half , until they were destroyed by the Almohads...
dynasty. It is located in the mountains northeast of M'Sila
M'Sila
M'Sila ; is the capital of M'Sila Province, Algeria, and is co-extensive with M'Sila District. It has a population of over 100,000...
, at an elevation of 1,418 meters, and receives abundant water from the surrounding mountains. Beni Hammad Fort is near the town of Maadid
Maadid
Maadid is a town and commune in M'Sila Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 22,274....
(aka Maadhid), about 225 km southeast of Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, in the Maghreb
Maghreb
The Maghreb is the region of Northwest Africa, west of Egypt. It includes five countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara...
.
In 1980, it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, and described as "an authentic picture of a fortified Muslim city".
The town includes a 7 km-long line of walls. Inside the walls are four residential complexes, and the largest mosque built in Algeria after that of Mansurah. It is similar to the Grand Mosque of Kairouan, with a tall minaret (20 m).
Excavations have brought to light numerous terracotta, jewels, coins and ceramics testifying to the high level of civilization under the Hammadid
Hammadid
The Hammadids were a Berber dynasty who ruled an area roughly corresponding to north-eastern modern Algeria for about a century and a half , until they were destroyed by the Almohads...
dynasty. Also among the artifacts discovered are several decorative fountains using the lion as a motif.
The remains of the emir's palace, known as Dal al-Bahr, include three separate residences separated by gardens and pavilions.
Dar al-Bahr, the Lake Palace
The Dar al-Bahr palace was named for its rectangular pool, which measured 67 by 47 meters. A ramp at one end of the pool was used to launch boats. References to nautical displays in this pool appear in the accounts of contemporary visitors. The pool was surrounded by a portico, and accessed through a monumental entrance on the east side. West of the pool was an elevated terrace and courtyard with gardens. Outside the walls of the palace complex, gardens extended east-to-west across the city, and to a depth of nearly 100 meters. The gardens have not yet been explored by archeologists, although ornamental fountains have been discovered.History
The fortress was built in 1007 by Hammad ibn BulugginHammad ibn Buluggin
Hammad ibn Buluggin was the first ruler of the Hammadids in what is now Algeria .After the death of his father Buluggin ibn Ziri, al-Mansur ibn Buluggin , Hammad's brother, became the head of the Zirid dynasty in Ifriqiya, and installed Hammad as governor of the central Maghreb...
, the son of Buluggin ibn Ziri
Buluggin ibn Ziri
Bologhine ibn Ziri was the first ruler of the Zirids in Ifriqiya .Bologhine was already given responsibility under the governorship of his father Ziri ibn Manad, during which time he founded the cities of Algiers, Miliana and Médéa. After Ziri's death in battle against renegade Berbers, Bologhine...
, the founder of Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
. The city became the capital of the Hammadid
Hammadid
The Hammadids were a Berber dynasty who ruled an area roughly corresponding to north-eastern modern Algeria for about a century and a half , until they were destroyed by the Almohads...
Berber
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
s, and sustained a siege from the Zirid
Zirid
The Zirid dynasty were a Sanhadja Berber dynasty, originating in modern Algeria, initially on behalf of the Fatimids, for about two centuries, until weakened by the Banu Hilal and finally destroyed by the Almohads. Their capital was Kairouan...
army of Morocco in 1017.
In 1090 it was abandoned under the menace of the Banu Hilal
Banu Hilal
The Banu Hilal were a confederation of Arabian Bedouin tribes that migrated from Upper Egypt into North Africa in the 11th century, having been sent by the Fatimids to punish the Zirids for abandoning Shiism. Other authors suggest that the tribes left the grasslands on the upper Nile because of...
, and was partly destroyed by the Almohads in 1152.