The fort of Bani Hammad (m'sila)
The hamidi state is one of the most prominent states that have emerged in the islamic maghreb , its emergence was the beginning of the birth of an independent political entity that played an important role in the economic ,scientific and political life in the maghreb, especially the middle maghreb. the emergence of the Hamadi state witnessed locally the beginning of a separation from the zirid dynasty due to the periods of conflict it knew for its survival and the establishment of the pillars of its monarchy, its legitimacy as well as its emergence and secession as an independent state in the central maghreb the period of survival ,continuity and civilizational development in addition to the construction of the capital for its king in the region of Hodna.
Hamdan Ben Buluggin took over the affairs of the middle maghreb in 398 ah/1007 ad benbadis allowed him to construct his castle known by beni Hamad , Hamdan ben buluggin settled in the city after constructing luxury castles and bringing water and strengthening the castle, and due to its strategic position it allowed him to observe easily the movement of the zeyanid tribes , he moved from time to time to Ashir the first capital of the ziride state, he became the owner of the two fortified cities in middle maghreb his greatness expanded,and his authority and power was strengthened.
In 398ah/1007AD Hamdan started to establish his new city, named after him and became since then known as the beni Hamad castel, it was in a position to achieve its founder’s political and military purposes .
There is no doubt that the strategic advantages that the city enjoyed is what attracted hamdan buluggin attention, after he settled in the region of Zibans and Hodna ,it tempted him to build a fort to play the political role done by Ashir in its first reign before kairouan seized much of its wealth.
he castle was built on a rugged cliff on top of the foothills of the mountain of Tagrbest on the northern borders of the hills of Hodna, and also on a flat land forming an extension from the mountains of tagrbest to the pains of m’sila , hamad was successful in choosing the location of his city to be a fort for his waiting property.
He settled there instead of Ashir because it gave him the chance to control the hills of Hodna and to observe the movements of the Zyanide tribes revolting on the zirides. Despite the strategic importance of the new city, Hamad did not neglect the first capital of sahanija, the city of Achir .
The establishment of the castel and making it the capital of the hamadi state was a painful reality to m’sila who was evacuated from the inhabitants, who left to the castle ,their houses were destroyed so that they had no hope of going back .
Banou hamada ruled the middle maghreb since (4028-547 AH /1017-1152AD) he state was reigned by 9 prices(rulers) they had all different ways of ruling,starting with Hamad the founder of the state and the other 8 (princes) rulers.
However the founder of the empire did not live long to see his efforts in establishing his monarchy in middle maghreb and the contribution of his state in the civilization of the maghreb, which have witnessed periods of prosperity and development in all the areas.he died in 419ah/1028Ad and paved the way to his successor and his heir(crown prince), who inherited a strong and stable state .
The emergence of Almoravids in the west maghreb (morocco) and the hilal tribes in the far maghreb, had an impact on the stability of the region of el hodna in that period in general and the fortress particularly,since it ended up being abandoned and became a ruin far from seight .
Coins and jewelries found in the area near the city showed that the region had a great level of civilization in its early years; it got listed in the world heritage of Algeria 1980.
