Author
According to the historian Ibn Hammad (d. 628 AH / 1230 AD), the construction of the city was entrusted to a person named Bunyash.
Author Original
استناداً للمؤرخ ابن حماد المتوفى في عام هجري ميلادي، فإن بناء المدينة قد أُوكل به لشخص يُدعى بونياش
Publication Date
379 - 398 AH / 1007 - 1008 AD
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Record ID
monument;ISL;dz;Mon01;4;ar
Library Location
The site of Beni Hammad Castle is located approximately 100 km south of the city of Bejaia, and about 20 km northeast of M'sila, M'Sila, site of Beni Hammad Castle, Algeria.
Date
379 - 398 AH / 1007 - 1008 AD
Notes
Hammad Ibn Balqin assumed power in Asher after suppressing the uprising in 391 AH / 1000 AD led by five of his brothers against his cousin Badis, the Emir of Africa, and he took a pledge from his cousin “not to regain power and to free his hand to possess Asher, the Middle Maghreb, and every country he conquered.” (Abd al-Rahman Ibn Khaldun, History of the Berbers). Hammad Ibn Balqin took advantage of this opportunity of independence to establish his capital: the citadel, and at the same time the Hammadid dynasty. The capital of the Hammadid dynasty was established, which would shine brilliantly on the southern slope of Mount Maadid, on a sloping surface, at a height of a thousand metres. It is protected from the north by Mount Takarbost, whose peak reaches 1,458 metres, from the west by the Qurayya Plateau, and from the east by the reefs of Wadi Faraj. The excavations did not include the entire site, and much work is still being done to deepen our knowledge of this historical period. However, the excavations carried out to date have not only revealed traces of beautiful buildings such as the clearly visible mosque and minaret, but also some important artifacts that are considered valuable evidence of great artistic and cultural activities. North of the minaret we find the Palace of the Princes, then the “Palace of the Sea.” To the west of the latter, “Qasr al-Najma”, and always behind it, towards the west, are the Qasr al-Salam, Qasr al-Manar, and the tower of the same name, all overlooking Wadi Faraj, east of the minaret. Al-Bakri, who lived in the 5th century AH / 11th century AD, describes the Beni Hammad Castle, saying: “It is a large fortress of strength and immunity (when Kairouan was in ruins and most of the people of Africa moved to it), it is today a popular destination for merchants and travellers. From Iraq, the Hijaz, Egypt, the Levant, and the rest of the Maghreb, and today it is the settlement of the Kingdom of Sanhaja.” Ibn Khaldun adds: “It was one of the greatest cities in Morocco. After that, its plan expanded and its development expanded, and scholars and merchants traveled to it from far and wide.” The Citadel of Beni Hammad attracted many scholars, poets, and jurists, especially after the Hilalites occupied the city of Kairouan.
Sample Text
Ali Lafer “Bani Hammad Castle Site” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;dz;Mon01;4;ar
