Abu Taghlib is the eldest son of al-Hasan, better known by his laqab of Nasir al-Dawla, who had established the Hamdanids as masters of a practically independent emirate encompassing the Jazira and centered on Mosul.

Nasir al-Dawla has engaged in repeated attempts to gain control over the Abbasid caliphs at Baghdad, but in the end had been forced to concede defeat to the more powerful Buyids, recognize their suzerainty and pay them tribute.

At the same time, Nasir al-Dawla's younger brother Ali, better known as Sayf al-Dawla, had managed to establish his control over northern Syria from his two capitals Aleppo and Mayyafariqin, and through his clashes with the Constantinople had quickly overshadowed his brother.

However, the last decade of Sayf al-Dawla's rule, until his death in February 967, has been marked by heavy military defeats at the hands of the Empire, who have occupied much of his domains, and internal turmoil.

It is in this context that Abu Taghlib is first mentioned in 964, when his father had once again been embroiled in a conflict with the Buyids.

The army of the Buyid Mu'izz al-Dawla occupies Mosul and Nasir al-Dawla is once again forced to flee to the hill country of the northern Jazira.

Abu Taghlib leads the resistance against the Buyids, who, unable to maintain themselves there, evacuate Mosul and reach a new agreement with the Hamdanids.

Consequently, Nasir al-Dawla is now increasingly eclipsed by his sons, and is deposed outright and exiled in 967, dying in captivity shortly after.

Abu Taghlib, surnamed "al-Ghadanfar" ("The Lion"), succeeds his father as emir and head of the Jaziran branch of the Hamdanid family, but almost immediately his authority is contested by a younger half-brother, Hamdan.

Nasir al-Dawla had entrusted the latter with the governance of Nisibis, Maridin and Rahba shortly before his deposition, and may have intended to name him as his heir over Abu Taghlib.

Hamdan is indeed the only son of Nasir al-Dawla to protest his father's deposition, and refuses to recognize Abu Taghlib.

With the aid of the new Buyid emir of Iraq, 'Izz al-Dawla Bakhtiyar, Abu Taghlib prevails over Hamdan, who flees to Baghdad.

Izz al-Dawla, born as Bakhtiyar, is the son of Mu'izz al-Dawla.

In the spring of 955, Mu'izz al-Dawla had become very ill and decided to name his son as his successor.

Five years later, the caliph had officially recognized this by granting Bakhtiyar the title of "Izz al-Dawla".

During his father's military expeditions, Izz al-Dawla had ruled in Baghdad.

Mu'izz al-Dawla dies in 967, leaving behind several pieces of advice for his son.

He recommends keeping the services of the Turkish commander Sabuktigin, respecting the wishes of the Turks, recognizing his uncle Rukn al-Dawla, who rules northern Persia, as senior amir, and respecting his cousin 'Adud al-Dawla, who rules from Fars.

He also gives a strategy for dealing with the Hamdanid emir of Mosul, Abu Taghlib.