Al-Mansur ibn Buluggin had become the head of the Zirid dynasty in Ifriqiya after the death of his father Buluggin ibn Ziri, and had installed his brother Hammad as governor of the central Maghreb (grossly corresponding to the modern northern Algeria).

Taking on the Zenata tribes, Hammad had eventually driven them into Morocco.

In 1007, Hammad had founded the residence of al-Qala ("the Fortress") in the Hodna mountains west of Setif and embarked on an extensive building program, which includes a palace and mosque that have become famous among contemporaries.

Following this, Hammad has gained ever more influence in the western Zirid realm.

In 1014, he had declared his independence from the Zirids and recognized the Abbasids in Baghdad as being the rightful Caliphs (not the Fatimids in Egypt, on whose behalf the Zirids rule).

Although there had initially been conflict with the Zirids, in 1016 they had been forced to conclude a ceasefire, and in 1018 they recognize the independence of the Hammadids.