Hammadid dynasty facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hammadid dynasty الحماديون  (Arabic) Al-Hāmmādiyūn
1014–1152
Hammadid territory circa 1050 (in green), and extended territories (dotted line) controlled in certain periods
Status	Nominal vassal of the Abbasid or Fatimid Caliphate
Capital	Qal'at Bani Hammad (c. 1007–1090) Bejaia (c. 1090–1152)
Official languages	Arabic
Common languages	Maghrebi Arabic Berber languages
Religion	Official: Islam Minority: Christianity, Judaism
Government	Hereditary monarchy
Emir
• c. 1007-1028	Hammad (first)
• c. 1062-1088	Al Nasir ibn Alnas
• c. 1121-1152	Yahya ibn Abd al-Aziz (last)
History
• Hammad proclaims independence from the Zirids	1014
• Conquered by the Almohads	1152
Currency	Dinar (gold coin)
Preceded by Succeeded by Zirid dynasty Zenata Almohad Caliphate Kingdom of Africa

The Hammadid dynasty (Arabic: الحماديون, romanized: Al-Hāmmādiyūn, lit. 'children of Hammad') was an Islamic kingdom in the central Maghreb. This area is now part of Algeria. It started in the early 11th century.

Hammad ibn Buluggin declared himself emir (ruler). This split the Zirid lands into two separate kingdoms. Under Emir Al Nasir, the Hammadid kingdom became very powerful. It stretched from Tlemcen in the west to Tunis in the east. It also reached from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the desert oasis of Ouargla in the south.

Hammad first built a strong, fortified city called Qal'at Bani Hammad to be his capital. Later, the capital moved to a new city called Al-Nāsiriyyah. This city was later renamed Bejaia. Both cities grew very large and rich. Bejaia even had over 100,000 people living there.

The Hammadids often fought with the Almoravids in the west. They also clashed with their relatives, the Zirids, in the east. The Zirids became weaker due to the powerful Normans from Sicily. The Normans also fought the Hammadids for control of Ifriqiya (modern-day Tunisia). Eventually, the Hammadids faced a new challenge from the rising Almohad Caliphate in the west. The Almohads conquered the Hammadid kingdom in 1152.

History of the Hammadids

How the Hammadids Started

In the late 900s, Hammad ibn Buluggin was made governor of western Zirid lands. He successfully defended the area from other tribes. Because of this, he was given more land.

Around 1007, Hammad built a new capital city called Qal'at Bani Hammad. This strong fortress city was in the Hodna Mountains. A busy city quickly grew around the fortress.

In 1014, Hammad decided to become independent from the Zirids. He also changed his religious loyalty. He switched from supporting the Shi'a Fatimid caliphs to the Sunni Abbasid caliphs. The Zirids tried to stop him but failed. They finally recognized Hammadid rule in 1017. This peace was sealed by marriage between the two families.

Later, the Zirids also broke away from the Fatimids. The Fatimid caliph sent Bedouin Arab tribes, the Banu Hilal, to invade the lands. This led to the Zirids becoming very weak. During this time, the Hammadids made an alliance with the Bedouin tribes.

The Hammadids and Zirids often supported different Arab tribes to fight each other. They also chose different caliphs to support. If the Zirids supported one caliph, the Hammadids would usually support the other. This showed their rivalry.

The Golden Age

Buluggin ibn Muhammad, a Hammadid ruler, invaded northern Morocco in 1062. He briefly took control of Fez. However, he was killed by his cousin, An-Nasir ibn Alnas. An-Nasir then became the new emir.

The Hammadid kingdom reached its greatest power during An-Nasir's rule. He took Constantine and Algiers. He also extended Hammadid influence far east to Sfax, Susa, and Tripoli. He even placed a loyal governor in Tunis for a few years.

Between 1067 and 1072, An-Nasir built Béjaïa. He turned it from a small fishing village into a large, fortified city and port. The Hammadids also expanded south into the Sahara desert. Ouargla became their southernmost city.

In the 11th century, the Hammadids faced more pressure from the Banu Hilal tribes. These tribes had settled near Qal'at Bani Hammad. The Hammadids, who were once allies, became like puppets to them. They had to give the tribes half of their harvest.

Because of the Banu Hilal threat, the Hammadids moved their capital to Béjaïa in 1090. Béjaïa became a very important trading city. Under An-Nasir and his son al-Mansur, many beautiful gardens, palaces, and a Great Mosque were built there.

An-Nasir also worked with Pope Gregory VII to increase trade with Italian merchants in Béjaïa. The city became a major center for trade and learning. Famous scholars taught there. Leonardo Fibonacci, a famous mathematician, even studied in Béjaïa. His father worked there, and Leonardo learned about the Arabic number system and math methods. He later brought these ideas to Europe.

Decline and End

Around 1103, the Hammadids defeated the Almoravids and took Tlemcen. During the rule of Abd al-Aziz ibn Mansur, Béjaïa had about 100,000 people. However, the Hammadids started to decline. Their efforts to build a strong navy were stopped by the Normans. By the 12th century, the Normans had conquered Sicily and taken over many coastal towns in Tunisia and Algeria.

The last Hammadid emir was Yahya ibn Abd al-Aziz. He fought off Bedouin attacks and other rebellions. But during his rule, the Genoese attacked Béjaïa in 1136. The Kingdom of Sicily also took over Djidjelli. Tunis, which had sometimes supported the Zirids and sometimes the Hammadids, was fully taken by the Hammadids in 1128.

In 1145, Abd al-Mu'min, the leader of the Almohads, conquered Tlemcen and Oran. In 1151, he marched against the Hammadids. The Almohads took Algiers in 1152. They then captured Béjaïa later that year, defeating the Hammadid army. This was a huge victory for Abd al-Mu'min.

Yahya, the last emir, fled but surrendered a few months later. He died peacefully in Salé, Morocco, in 1163. The Almohads did not destroy Béjaïa because the city surrendered willingly.

About 30 years after the Hammadids fell, there was a brief attempt to bring them back. In 1184, a leader named 'Ali ibn Ghaniya took control of Béjaïa. He gathered a mixed army of former Hammadid supporters and others who opposed Almohad rule. He quickly captured Algiers and other towns. However, less than a year later, the Almohads recaptured all the towns.

Territories of the Hammadids

The Hammadid kingdom covered most of what is now northern Algeria. When Hammad ibn Buluggin first became independent, he made an agreement with his cousin. Hammad would rule a large part of central Maghreb. This included important cities like M'sila, Achir, and Tahert.

The kingdom quickly grew. After Hammad's death, his son El Qaid became ruler. In 1038, they fought against the ruler of Fes. But the ruler of Fez quickly gave up and submitted to the Hammadids.

Under Sultan Buluggin ibn Muhammad, the Hammadids expanded west. He defeated the Zenata tribes and entered Tlemcen in 1058. He also put down a rebellion in Biskra. In 1062, he learned that the Almoravids had taken control of Morocco. He launched a campaign into Morocco and pushed the Almoravids back.

The kingdom reached its largest size under Al Nacer (1062-1089). The Hammadids gained influence in Ifriqiya (Tunisia). The governors of Sfax and Tunis submitted to Al Nacer. He also conquered Laribus and briefly entered Qayrawan. The cities of Sousse and Tripoli also submitted to him. He expanded south, expelling the Ibadi from Sedrata and putting down a revolt in Ouargla.

His successor Al Mansour fought the Almoravids in the west. He marched on Tlemcen with over 20,000 fighters. After a victory, the border between the two kingdoms was set at Tlemcen. In the east, Al Mansour quickly put down a rebellion and recaptured Bone.

Few changes happened after Al Mansour's death. The Hammadid fleet captured the island of Djerba under Abd Al Aziz. Also, Tunis was brought back into the Hammadid kingdom. During the rule of the last king, Yahya, the Hammadid lands stretched to the plains of Sig near Oran. This marked the border with the Almoravids.

How the Hammadids Ruled

The Hammadid government was an Islamic absolute monarchy. This means the ruler, called an Emir or Sultan, had all the power. The Hammadid family always held the power. They recognized the spiritual authority of the Fatimid Caliphate at first. Later, they recognized the Abbasid Caliphate.

The legal system, called Qada, was separate from the government. Its laws came from the Maliki school of Islamic law. This was common in the Maghreb and Al-Andalus. Arabic was the official language for legal matters. Each city had a judge appointed by the Hammadid Emirs. This judge handled issues for Muslims, like complaints.

At first, the Hammadid emirs managed everything themselves. Later, they gave this job to viziers (high-ranking officials) in the capital. Most of these viziers were not from the Hammadid family. They handled many tasks, like stopping rebellions and dealing with other kingdoms. They also managed internal and external affairs.

The Banu Hamdoune family was very powerful in the kingdom. One of them, Mimoun ibn Hamdoune, was a vizier for the last Hammadid Emir, Yahya. His power grew as the Emir focused more on hunting and entertainment.

The Hammadid government also had special offices. The Diwan al-Insha wrote treaties and agreements. The Diwan al-Bareed handled communication. This was important for the emir to talk with other rulers. They had an advanced communication system. They used mountain fire signals and reflective mirrors in lighthouses to send messages far away. They might have also used carrier pigeons.

Most governors of the kingdom's territories were from the royal family. Each city had a governor chosen by the Hammadid Sultan. Cities like Algiers, Bône, Constantine, and Jijel all had their own governors.

At its peak, under Al Nacer, his brother Kbab governed the western territories from Miliana. Another brother, Ruman, governed Hamza. His third brother, Balbar, governed Constantine. His fourth brother, Khazar, governed N'Gaous. Al Nacer also put his sons in charge of Algiers and Achir. Other regions, like Tozeur, were given to other emirs.

Art and Architecture

Architecture

Hammadid Minaret

Qal'at Beni Hammad, the first capital, was a huge military base and a busy trading center. It attracted traders from all over the Maghreb, Iraq, Syria, and Egypt. The city was known for its wealth and attracted poets, wise people, and religious scholars.

Qal'at Beni Hammad had many richly decorated palaces, inns for travelers, and gardens. It also had what was thought to be the largest mosque in North Africa before the 20th century. The art and buildings of the Hammadids influenced later styles in the region.

Most of the five Hammadid palaces are now destroyed. But the tower of the Palace of the Fanal (Qasr al-Manar) still stands. A minaret, about 82 feet (25 meters) tall, is the only part left of the ruined Great Mosque. This minaret looks a bit like the Seville's Giralda tower. Hammadid mosques often had the typical square minaret style of the Maghreb.

Buildings in Qal'at Bani Hammad were decorated with colorful porcelain mosaics, sculpted panels, and plaster. They also used enameled terra-cotta decorations. The designs often featured geometric patterns and stylized flowers.

A poet named Ibn Hamdis wrote about a Hammadid palace. He described marble courtyards that looked like they were covered with crystal and fine pearls. He also mentioned a pool with marble lions that had water flowing from their mouths. These lions were probably similar to those at the famous Court of the Lions in the Alhambra.

Archaeologists found pieces of stucco from the Qasr al-Salam and Qasr al-Manar palaces. These might be the oldest examples of muqarnas (a type of decorative vaulting) in the Western Islamic world. They date back to the 11th or 12th century.

The buildings at Qal'at Beni Hammad are also important because they show early examples of designs that became popular later. For example, plaster decorations found there are similar to those seen in later Almoravid and Almohad buildings. The use of multi-foil arches (arches with many lobes) also spread from Qal'at Beni Hammad to other areas.

Art

Excavations at Qal'at Beni Hammad also uncovered many examples of early Islamic ceramics. The way ceramics were made in Spain and North Africa later on was strongly influenced by the Hammadids. Techniques like luster-painting (a special type of glaze) on pottery spread from Qal'at Beni Hammad to other cities.

Luster-painted and glazed ceramic decorations were very common in Béjaïa during the Hammadid era. It is said that Al-Nasir even asked Pope Gregory VII for Italian builders and skilled workers to help construct Béjaïa.

Although Béjaïa is mostly in ruins today, a large sea gate called Bab al-Bahr (gate of the sea) still stands. It was built during An-Nasir's rule, along with five other gates, to protect the city. Another gate, the Bab al-Bunud, also built in Béjaïa, had hexagonal towers and pointed arch gates.

Drawings of two Hammadid palaces in Béjaïa have been saved. They show what these grand buildings looked like. One palace had a huge domed hall with smaller towers and rooms. The second palace, called al-Kukab, had a large central hall with a gabled roof and two small towers.

The Great Mosque of Constantine was originally built by the Hammadids in the 12th century. It was constructed on the remains of an old Roman temple.

List of Hammadid Rulers

Here is a list of the Hammadid rulers, from when they became independent in 1015 until the Almohad conquest in 1152:

See also

• List of Sunni Muslim dynasties