Hammadid
Encyclopedia
The Hammadids were a Berber
dynasty who ruled an area roughly corresponding to north-eastern modern Algeria
for about a century and a half (1008–1152), until they were destroyed by the Almohad
s. Soon after coming to power, they rejected the Ismaili
doctrine of the Fatimid
s, and returned to Maliki
Sunnism, acknowledging the Abbasid
s as rightful Caliph
s.
Their capital was at first Qalaat Beni Hammad, founded in 1007 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; when this was endangered by the Banu Hilal
, who led a Fatimid expedition against Zirids and Hammamids, they moved to Béjaïa
(1090).
, declared himself independent from the Zirids, then ruling most of Maghreb
from Morocco to Tunisia, and obtained the recognition from the Abbasid
Caliph of Baghdad. The Zirids sent an army, but two years later a peace was signed, although the Zirid recognized the Hammadid legitimacy only in 1018.
Hammad founded a new capital in Qalaat Beni Hammad. With the Banu Hilal
menace rising (spurred by the rival Fatimid caliphs of Egypt), they moved it to Béjaïa
, which became one of the most prosperous cities in the medieval Mediterranean (1052).
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...
dynasty who ruled an area roughly corresponding to north-eastern modern Algeria
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...
for about a century and a half (1008–1152), until they were destroyed by the Almohad
Almohad
The Almohad Dynasty , was a Moroccan Berber-Muslim dynasty founded in the 12th century that established a Berber state in Tinmel in the Atlas Mountains in roughly 1120.The movement was started by Ibn Tumart in the Masmuda tribe, followed by Abd al-Mu'min al-Gumi between 1130 and his...
s. Soon after coming to power, they rejected the Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
doctrine of the Fatimid
Fatimid
The Fatimid Islamic Caliphate or al-Fāṭimiyyūn was a Berber Shia Muslim caliphate first centered in Tunisia and later in Egypt that ruled over varying areas of the Maghreb, Sudan, Sicily, the Levant, and Hijaz from 5 January 909 to 1171.The caliphate was ruled by the Fatimids, who established the...
s, and returned to Maliki
Maliki
The ' madhhab is one of the schools of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam. It is the second-largest of the four schools, followed by approximately 25% of Muslims, mostly in North Africa, West Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and in some parts of Saudi Arabia...
Sunnism, acknowledging the Abbasid
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
s as rightful Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
s.
Their capital was at first Qalaat Beni Hammad, founded in 1007 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; when this was endangered by 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...
, who led a Fatimid expedition against Zirids and Hammamids, they moved to Béjaïa
Béjaïa
Béjaïa, Vgaiet or Bejaya is a Mediterranean port city on the Gulf of Béjaïa in Algeria; it is the capital of Béjaïa Province, Kabylia. Under French rule, it was formerly known under various European names, such as Budschaja in German, Bugia in Italian, and Bougie...
(1090).
History
In 1014 Hammad ibn Buluggin, a Berber who had been placed as governor of central MaghrebMaghreb
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...
, declared himself independent from the Zirids, then ruling most of 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...
from Morocco to Tunisia, and obtained the recognition from the Abbasid
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
Caliph of Baghdad. The Zirids sent an army, but two years later a peace was signed, although the Zirid recognized the Hammadid legitimacy only in 1018.
Hammad founded a new capital in Qalaat Beni Hammad. With 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...
menace rising (spurred by the rival Fatimid caliphs of Egypt), they moved it to Béjaïa
Béjaïa
Béjaïa, Vgaiet or Bejaya is a Mediterranean port city on the Gulf of Béjaïa in Algeria; it is the capital of Béjaïa Province, Kabylia. Under French rule, it was formerly known under various European names, such as Budschaja in German, Bugia in Italian, and Bougie...
, which became one of the most prosperous cities in the medieval Mediterranean (1052).
Rulers
- Hammad ibn BulugginHammad ibn BulugginHammad 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...
, 1014–1028 - al-Qaid ibn HammadQaid ibn HammadQaid ibn Hammad was the second Hammadid ruler in what is now Algeria.He succeeded his father Hammad ibn Buluggin in 1028. He named his brother Yusuf as governor of North Africa, and another brother, Ouighlan, governor of Hamza. In 1038 he was attacked by Hammama, lord of Fes, but pushed him back...
, 1028–1045 - Muhsin ibn QaidMuhsin ibn QaidMuhsin ibn Qaid was the ruler of the Hammadids from 1045 to 1046....
, 1045–1046 - Buluggin ibn MuhammadBuluggin ibn MuhammadBuluggin ibn Muhammad was the ruler of the Hammadids from 1046 to 1062. He led an army into Morocco against the Almoravids and briefly captured Fes. On his withdrawal, he was assassinated by an agent of his successor Nasir ibn Alnas.- References :...
ibn Hammad, 1046–1062 - an-Nasir ibn AlnasNasir ibn AlnasAn-Nasir ibn Alnas was the fifth ruler of the Hammadids in Algeria, from 1062 until his death.An-Nasir succeeded Buluggin ibn Muhammad after his murder in 1062. After the decline of the Zirids in Ifriqiya as a result of the invasion of the Banu Hilal , An-Nasir was able to extend the influence of...
ibn Hammad, 1062–1088 - al-Mansur ibn NasirMansur ibn NasirMansur ibn Nasir was the sixth ruler of the Hammadids in Algeria .Under al-Mansur, the son of Nasir ibn Alnas the decline of the Hammadid kingdom began. Although he managed to conquer Algeria from the Almoravids with Bedouin assistance, he was unable to keep the unruly Bedouin tribes under control...
, 1088–1104 - Badis ibn MansurBadis ibn Mansur (Hammadid)Badis ibn Mansur was briefly the ruler of the Hammadids in 1104....
, 1104 - Abd al-Aziz ibn MansurAbd al-Aziz ibn MansurAbd al-Aziz ibn Mansur was the ruler of the Hammadids from 1104 to 1121....
, 1104–1121 - Yahya ibn Abd al-AzizYahya ibn Abd al-AzizYahya ibn Abd al-Aziz was the last ruler of the Hammadids from 1112 to 1152....
, 1121–1152