Accies came roaring out the traps and took the lead when James McArthur drilled home after Mickael Antoine-Curier's shot came back off the post. Simon Mensing profited from calamitous defending to double Accies' lead.
Hearts hit back through Eggert Jonsson, but red cards for skipper Michael Stewart and Ismael Bouzid dashed hopes of a comeback in an ill-tempered clash.
Billy Reid's Hamilton side won the previous league encounter when the two sides met at New Douglas Park in January and they caught Hearts cold with a blistering start.
Accies pinned the visitors in their own half and their possession was rewarded with a goal in four minutes. McArthur found Antoine-Curier, whose shot cannoned back off the post and the midfielder was on hand to drill the ball home.
Bouzid was fortunate to be spared a yellow card after chopping down McArthur as the hosts threatened to overrun the shell-shocked visitors. Hearts struggled to get out of their own half within the opening 20 minutes, with lone striker Christian Nade unable to make any impression.
Midfielder Ian Black had Hearts' first serious effort on target in the 19th minute but his shot on the turn was comfortably saved by Tomas Cerny.
Hamilton doubled their lead in the 24th minute with the Hearts defence all at sea. James Wesolowski's cross found the unmarked Mensing, and the defender controlled the ball with a clever touch before hooking past the advancing Janos Balogh.
Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo acted to combat his side's defensive calamities, replacing Dawid Kucharski with David Obua. The substitution seemed to jolt Hearts into action and they began to venture into Accies territory with more menace.
And they reduced the deficit with seven minutes of the first half remaining. Obua's low cross found Jonsson and he showed a cool head to slide the ball into the corner of the net from close range for his second league goal of the season.
Suddenly, Hearts were quicker to the ball as they sought an unlikely equaliser before the break.
Hearts came out for the second-half five minutes early, obviously eager to make amends for their dismal first-half performance.
Laryea Kingston, Obua and Suso Santana became more influential but Nade continued to struggle against the central defensive pairing of Martin Canning and Mark McLaughlin. Hearts goalkeeper Janos Balogh was reported injured and was withdrawn at the break, with Jamie MacDonald replacing him.
Hearts hopes of finding an equaliser suffered a blow in the 48th minute when Michael Stewart was shown a red card following a clumsy trip over Alex Neil and, despite his vehement protests, the Hearts skipper reluctantly trudged up the tunnel.
The referee had a clear view of the incident and questions must be asked about his decision to send off Stewart for an innocuous tangle with Neil.
The sending off knocked Hearts off their stride and McDonald reacted well to palm away Marco Paixao's free-kick. Hearts spurned a great chance to equalise when Black found Suso with a deep cross but the winger's header was straight at Cerny.
Substitute Calum Elliot was inches away from connecting with Craig Thomson's free-kick but he could not get a touch at the back post.
The home supporters became increasingly frustrated with their side's wayward passing and how Hearts were creeping back into the game.
But any hopes of a Hearts comeback were dashed when Bouzid received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
Despite holding a two-man advantage, Hamilton were relieved to hear the final whistle and luckily survived a blatant late penalty appeal when Elliot tumbled under David Elebert's challenge.