Buluggin ibn Ziri

While his father Ziri ibn Menad was emir of the central Maghreb, Buluggin ibn Ziri founded the city of Algiers on the site of the ancient Roman Icosium in 960, but also Médéa and Miliana. He also rebuilt the villages destroyed by the various revolts.[1]

On the death of his father, in a battle against Kharidjite Berber tribes in 971, he inherited power. The Fatimid Caliph Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah appointed Buluggin ibn Ziri as Emir of the Maghreb. In addition to the attributions of his father Menad Abu Ziri, he received the regions of Zab and M'Sila that the defector Dja`far ibn `Ali ruled.[2] The honours that were bestowed on him would provoke the jealousy of the Kutamas.[3] Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah left the governance of Sicily and Tripoli to members of his family.[4]

Buluggin continues the fight against the Zenatas. The Maghrawa ask for the help of the Umayyads of Cordoba to take back their territory and their cities. Buluggin then took control of almost all of the Maghreb following the directives of the Fatimid Caliph.[3] His orders were to kill all the Zenatas and to collect taxes from the Berbers under threat of force. Buluggin molested the Maghrawa, the Hawwaras (branch of the Branis), the Nefzawas (branch of the Zenatas) and the Mazata. The prisoners were resettled in great numbers in the settlement of Ashir.[3]

The Fatimids transfer their court from Mahdia to Cairo. Buluggin was then appointed viceroy of Ifriqiya with Kairouan as its capital.[5] The Fatimids had taken the treasury and fleet with them to Egypt, so the first priority of the Zirid government was to consolidate their rule. However the loss of the fleet meant loss of control over the Kalbids in Sicily. Buluggin advanced towards the Atlantic Ocean during a campaign in Morocco, where he also fought against the Bargawata. The Caliphate of Córdoba was however able to retain the fortresses of Ceuta and Tangiers. Nevertheless Buluggin remained a vassal of the Fatimids to whom he had to pay tribute, he remained surrounded by advisors who were there to support him as much as to watch over him. The Fatimids took with them wealth and military equipment. The absolute priority of the Zirids was therefore to strengthen their power, but the displacement of the Fatimid fleet towards Egypt made the conservation of the Kalbide territories in Sicily impossible.

Bologhine Ziri received from the Caliph the titles of Abu al-Futuh, "Father of Victories" and Sayf ad-Dawla "Sword of Empire".[4][6] In 977, Abu Mansur Nizar al-Aziz Billah, successor of Al-Muizz li-Dîn Allah, attributes to Bologhine the cities of Tripoli, Ajdabiya and Sirte in addition to his previous attributions.[4] He conquers Fez, Sijilmassa and but stops before Ceuta. When he saw the square, which he considered impregnable, and the reinforcements of the Zenatas coming from Andalusia by sea. He turns back.[6] He punished the sovereign of the Barghawata who was declared prophet in an expedition in 980 or 981.[7]

In May 984, Bologhine died, his son Al-Mansur succeeded him in all his attributions.