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Hammad ibn Buluggin

Early 11th centuryConstantine
📖Their story

Sent to govern the central Maghreb, Hammad broke from his Zirid cousins, switched religious allegiance and built a fortified capital high in the mountains, called Qal'at Bani Hammad. Around it grew palaces, mosques and markets that drew scholars and merchants from across North Africa.

Why they matter

He founded the Hammadid dynasty, a major medieval power based in eastern Algeria.

💡Did you know?

The ruins of Qal'at Bani Hammad are today a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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