After the death of his father Buluggin ibn Ziri, al-Mansur ibn Buluggin (984–995), Hammad"s brother, became the head of the Zirid dynasty in Ifriqiya, and installed Hammad as governor of the central Maghreb (grossly corresponding to the modern northern Algeria).
He took on the Zanata tribes and eventually drove them into Morocco. Following this Hammad gained ever more influence in the western Zirid realm. Although there was initially conflict with the Zirids, in 1016 they were forced to conclude a ceasefire, and in 1018 they recognised the independence of the Hammadids.
The successor of Hammad was Qaid ibn Hammad (1028–1054), under whom relations with the Fatimids were re-established.
