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This is a list of rulers of Saba' and Himyar , ancient Arab kingdoms which are now part of present-day Yemen. The kingdom of Saba' became part of the Himyarite Kingdom in the late 3rd century CE. [1]
The title Mukarrib (Old South Arabian: 𐩣𐩫𐩧𐩨, romanized:mkrb, also: Mukrab) was used by the rulers of Saba' until Karib'il Watar changed the ruling title to Malik (meaning: King) in the 7th century BCE. [2] In the later centuries, the rulers of Himyar were given the title Tubba' (Arabic: تُبَّع) which meant "one who follows the sun like a shadow" [3] as well as the usual Malik title. [4] After the fall of Dhu Nuwas around 530 CE to the Aksumite Empire, [5] Yemen was open for foreign domination by the Aksumites and later the Sasanian Empire, both of whom installed local vassal rulers over the Yemeni people. [6] [7] [8]
Mukarrib | Reigned | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Yatha' 'Amr Bayin | circa 1000–950 BC | |
2 | Yada'il Bayin | ||
3 | Samah'ali Yanuf | ||
4 | Yatha' 'Amar Watar | ||
5 | Yakrib Malek Dzarah | ||
6 | Yakrib Malik Watar | ||
7 | Samah'ali Yanuf II | ||
8 | Yada'il Bayin II | ||
9 | Yatha' 'Amar Watar II | He was a contemporary of Sargon II. | |
10 | Yada' Ab | ||
11 | Yada'il Bayin III | ||
12 | Yakrib Malik Watar II | ||
13 | Yatha' 'Amar Bayin II | ||
14 | Karib'il Watar | He was a contemporary with Sennacherib. Not to be confused with the later king Karib'il Watar. | |
15 | Yada' Ab II | ||
16 | Akh Karib | ||
17 | Samah'ali Watar | ||
18 | Yada'il Dharih | Son of Samah'ali Watar (17). | |
19 | Samah'ali Yanuf III | Son of Yada'il Dharih (18). | |
20 | Yatha' 'Amar Watar III | Son of Yada'il Dharih (18) and the brother of Samah'ali Yanuf III (19). | |
21 | Yada'il Bayin IV | Son of Yatha' 'Amar Watar III (20). | |
22 | Yada'il Watar | Son of Yatha' 'Amar Watar III (20) and is the brother of Yada'il Bayin IV (21). | |
23 | Dhamar Ali Dharih | Son of Yada'il Bayin IV (21). | |
24 | Yatha' 'Amar Watar IV | Son of Samah'ali Yanuf III (19). | |
25 | Karib'il Bayin | Son of Yatha' 'Amar Watar IV (24). | |
26 | Samah'ali Yanuf IV | Son of Yatha' 'Amar Watar IV (24) and brother of Karabil Bayin (25). | |
27 | Dhamar Ali Watar | Son of Samah'ali Yanuf IV (26). | |
28 | Samah'ali Yanuf V | Son of Dhamar Ali Watar (27). | |
29 | Yatha' 'Amar Bayin III | Son of Samah'ali Yanuf V (28). | |
30 | Yakrib Malik Watar III | ||
31 | Dhamar Ali Yanuf | Son of Yakrib Malik Watar III (30). |
King | Reigned | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
32 | Karib'il Watar II | 620–600 BC | Son of (31). |
33 | Sumuh'ali Dharih | 600–580 BC | Son of (32). |
34 | Karib'il Watar III | 580–570 BC | Son of (33). |
35 | Ilīsharaḥ I | 570–560 BC | Son of (33). |
36 | Yada'il Bayin V | 560–540 BC | Son of (34). |
37 | Yakrib Malik Watar IV | 540–520 BC | Son of (36). |
38 | Yatha' Amar Bayin IV | 520–500 BC | Son of (37). |
39 | Karib'il Watar IV | 500–480 BC | Son of (38). |
40 | Sumuh'ali Yanuf VI | 480–460 BC | Son of (39). |
41 | Yada'il Bayin VI | Son of (39). | |
42 | Yatha' 'Amar Watar V | Son of (39). | |
43 | Ilsharih II | 460–445 BC | Son of 41 |
44 | Zamir Ali Bayin I | 445–430 BC | Son of 41 |
45 | Yada'il Watar II | 430–410 BC | Son of 44 |
46 | Zamir Ali Bayin II | 410–390 BC | Son of 45 |
47 | Samah'ali Yanuf VII | Son of (46) | |
48 | Karib'il Watar V | 390–370 BC | Unknown parentage, probably the son of (46) |
— | Unknown | 370–350 BC | A period of time without any inscriptions dedicated to a ruler. |
49 | Karib Yuhan'im | 350–330 BC | Son of an uncertain "Ham 'Athat" |
50 | Karib'il Watar VI | 330–310 BC | Son of (49) |
51 | Wahhab Shamsam/Al-Yahiz | 310–290 BC | Son of an unspecified "Halik 'Amar" although he has also been identified as the son of another unspecified personality named "Saraw" |
52 | Anmar Yuha'min I | 290–270 BC | Son of (51) |
53 | Dhamar Ali Dharih II | 270–250 BC | Son of (52) |
54 | Nasha'karib Yuha'min | 250–230 BC | Son of (53) |
— | Unknown | 230–200 BC | A period of the time without any inscriptions dedicated to a ruler. |
55 | Nasir Yuhan'em | 200–180 BC | |
56 | Dhamar Ali Bayin III | ||
57 | Wahhab/Al-Yahiz II | 180–160 BC | |
58 | Karib'il Watar Yuhan'im | 160–145 BC | Son of (57). |
59 | Anmar Yuha'min II | Son of (57). | |
60 | Yarim 'Aymin | 145–115 BC | Son of an unspecified "Awsalat Rafshan" and he usurped the throne with his son |
61 | Alhan Nahfan | Son of (60) who usurped the throne alongside his father. | |
62 | Far'am Yanhab | 130–125 BC | Regained the legitimate throne of Saba'. |
King | Reigned | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
63 | Sha'ram Awtar | Son of (61). | |
64 | Ilisharih Yahdhib | Son of (62). He was probably Strabo's "Ilasarus". Contemporary with Sha'ram Awtar, see (63). | |
65 | Yazil Bayin | Son of (62). He allied with his brother see (64) against Sha'ram Awtar (63). | |
67 | Hayu Athtar Yazi' | ||
68 | Karib'il Watar Yuhan'im II | Son of (56). Probably the king Charibael of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea , said to have dominion over the major ports of Azania (the Swahili coast) through a vassal located at Saba'. | |
69 | Watar Yuha'min | Son of (64). | |
70 | Dhamar Ali Dharih III | Son of (68). | |
71 | Nasha'karib Yuha'min Yuhar'ib | Son of (64). | |
72 | Karib'il Bayin II | Son of (68). | |
73 | Yasir Yuhasdiq | ||
74 | Sa'd Shams 'Asri | Son of (64). | |
75 | Murthid Yuhahm'id | Son of (74). | |
76 | Dhamar Ali Yahbur | 135–175 | Son of 73. His statue made by the Greek sculptors is well preserved and on display at the National Museum of Yemen. [9] |
77 | Tha'ran Ya'ub Yuhan'im | Son of (76). Has a statue preserved in the National Museum of Yemen. | |
78 | Dhamar Ali Yahbur II | Son of (77). | |
79 | Shamdar Yuhan'im | ||
80 | Amdan Bayin Yuhaqbiz | ||
81 | Hutar Athat Yafish | ||
82 | Karab Athat Yuhaqbiz | ||
83 | Shahar Aymin | ||
84 | Rabb Shams Nimran | ||
85 | Al-Izz Nawfan Yuhasd'iq | ||
86 | Sa'd Um Nimran | ||
87 | Yasir Yuhan'im |
King | Reigned | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
88 | Shammar Yahr'ish | AD 275–300 | Son of 87 |
89 | Yarim Yuharhib | Son of 88 | |
90 | Yasir Yuhan'im III | Son of 88 | |
91 | Tharin Ayfi' | Son of 90 | |
92 | Dhara'amar Ayman I | Son of 90 | |
93 | Karabil Watar Yuhan'em III | ||
94 | Tharin Yakrib | Son of 88 | |
95 | Dhamar Ali Yahbur II | 321–324 | Son of 94 |
96 | Tharan Yuhanim | 324–375 | Son of 95 |
This period of time is most famously featured in Arabian legends. This is also the last period of native Yemeni rule.
King | Reigned | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
97 | Malkikarib Yuhamin | 375–400 | Son of (96). He is the first king to officially convert to Judaism and remove previous polytheistic invocations from records and inscriptions. He also replaced the Great Temple of the pagan god Almaqah with a mikrāb for Jewish organization. Later tradition ascribes the conversion to Judaism to his son, Abu Karib. |
98 | Abu Karib As'ad | 390–440 | Son of (97). Judaism was made the state religion during his rule. Some Arab traditions relate that he was the first ruler to put a covering over the Kaaba during his attempted invasion of Mecca. |
99 | Hassan Yuha'min | 440–450 | Son of (98). He shared kingship with his brother Sharhabil Yafar for a while. [10] |
100 | Sharhabil Yafar | 450–465 | Son of (98). Known as 'Amr in the Arabian folklore and traditions. |
101 | Sharhabil Yakkuf | 465–480 | He is believed to have started a new dynasty, as his patronymic is not mentioned in any inscription. Sharhabil Yakkuf is also featured in Ethiopian folklore as being a king who accepted Judaism and persecuted the Christians living in Arabia. |
102 | Lakhni'ah Yanuf | 480–502 | He is the son of (101) and did start off his political career by sharing the royal power with his father and other two brothers, Abu Shamir Nawaf and Ma'dikarib Yun'im. Some inscriptions also cite him as being from the Dhu Hasbah/Dhu Asbah tribe. |
103 | Marthad'ilan Yu'nim | 502–504 | He is the son of (102) and helped to build a synagogue for the local Jewish community. |
104 | Marthad'ilan Yanuf | 504–515 | He is one of the first Christians to rule Himyar, his name being visible in the inscription "YM 1200" which shows some of his interactions with Christians from Abyssinia. [4] |
105 | Ma'dikarib Ya'fur | 515–517 | He was appointed as a king by the Aksumite Empire. [11] In the Arabian folklore, Ma'dikarib Ya'fur does not exist, and is instead replaced by an unknown Dhu Shanatir. |
106 | Dhu Nuwas | 517–530 | The last of the native Himyarite kings, he rose to power in 517 after assassinating (104). His real name was Yusuf As'ar Yathar and his father was an unknown Sharhabil, thought to have been Sharhabil Yakkuf (101). He was known for his persecutions of Christians. He was killed in the year 530 during the Aksumite conquest of Yemen by King Kaleb. |
After the Aksumites successfully invaded and subsequently took control of Yemen, they appointed a native Christian as the vassal ruler of Saba' and Himyar. However, later on actual Abyssinians would rule Saba' and Himyar temporarily until the Sasanian Empire conquered Yemen under request from the native Yemenis.
King | Reigned | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
106 | Sumyafa Ashwa | 530–535 | A native from Himyar who had converted to Christianity, Sumyafa Ashwa was appointed by Kaleb as the ruler of Saba' and Himyar. He was deposed and overthrown in 535 by Abraha, who usurped the throne from him. |
107 | Abraha | 535–570 | A usurper to the throne, he deposed Sumyafa Ashwa by force and imprisoned him. He also turned against Kaleb, but they later reconciled and he was allowed to keep his throne. He is best known for his attempted invasion of Mecca, a famous story in Islamic literature and exegesis. |
108 | Yaksum ibn Abraha | 570–571 | Son of Abraha, he ruled for no more than one year, as he ascended the throne in 570, but died the following year. |
109 | Masruq ibn Abraha | 571–572 | Son of Abraha and the brother of Yaksum. After his brother's death, he took the throne. During this time period, the native Yemenis revolted against him and later on, they were assisted by forces from the Persian Sasanian Empire. Masruq was ultimately killed in the attack by the invading Persian army, ending Aksumite rule over Himyar. |
King | Reigned | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
110 | Ma'adi Yakrib ibn Abi Murrah | 572–574 | Appointed as a vassal king by the Sasanian Empire. He ruled for two years until he was stabbed to death by Abyssinian assailants whom he had hired as his servants. After his death, his son Ma'dikarib was made a temporary ruler of Yemen. |
The terms Qahtanite and Qahtani refer to Arabs who originate from Modern day Yemen. The term "Qahtan" is mentioned in multiple ancient Arabian inscriptions found in Yemen. Arab traditions believe that they are the original Arabs.
The Himyarite Kingdom was a polity in the southern highlands of Yemen, as well as the name of the region which it claimed. Until 110 BCE, it was integrated into the Qatabanian kingdom, afterwards being recognized as an independent kingdom. According to classical sources, their capital was the ancient city of Zafar, relatively near the modern-day city of Sana'a. Himyarite power eventually shifted to Sana'a as the population increased in the fifth century. After the establishment of their kingdom, it was ruled by kings from dhū-Raydān tribe. The kingdom was named Raydān.
South Arabia is a historical region that consists of the southern region of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia, mainly centered in what is now the Republic of Yemen, yet it has also historically included Najran, Jizan, Al-Bahah, and 'Asir, which are presently in Saudi Arabia, and the Dhofar of present-day Oman.
Wahrez was a Sasanian general of Daylamite origin, first mentioned in the prelude to the Iberian War and then during the Aksumite–Persian wars.
Shammar Yahr'ish al-Himyari, full name Shammar Yahr'ish ibn Yasir Yuha'nim al-Manou was a Himyarite king. He was the first to have the title “King of Saba', Dhu Raydan, Hadramawt and Yamnat” and he united most of Yemen during his rule.
Ma'adi Yakrib ibn Abi Murrah, more commonly known by the Arabian legends as Abu Murrah Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan al-Himyari or just Sayf ibn Ziyazin was a semi-legendary Himyarite king who lived between 516 and 578 known for ending Aksumite rule over South Arabia with the help of the Sasanian Empire.
Abū Karib As’ad al-Kāmil,, called "Abū Karīb", sometimes rendered as As'ad Abu Kurayb, full name: Abu Karib As'ad ibn Hassān Maliki Karib Yuha'min, was king of the Himyarite Kingdom. He ruled Yemen from 390 CE until 420 CE, beginning as a coregency with his father Malkikarib Yuhamin followed by becoming sole ruler in 400. As'ad is cited in some sources as the first of several kings of the Arabian Peninsula to convert to Judaism, although contemporary historians have ascribed this transition to his father. He was traditionally regarded as the first one to cover the Kaaba with the kiswah.
The Aksumite–Persian wars were a protracted series of armed engagements between the Sasanian Persian Empire and the Aksumite Empire for control over South Arabia in the 6th century CE. After a decisive victory at the Battle of Hadhramaut in 570, the Sasanian forces marched on and besieged Sana'a, following which the Aksumites were largely expelled from the Arabian Peninsula, however they still had direct control of Najran. The Persians instated the former Himyarite king Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan as the governor of the new Sasanian province of Yemen. However, Yazan was murdered by his Ethiopian servants four years into his reign, after which the Aksumites re-established their power in the region. Following the death of Yazan, the Sasanian army mounted a second invasion and re-conquered Yemen by 575–578, marking the end of Axumite rule in Arabia. After Sasanian control was firmly established in the region, the Persian military general Wahrez was installed as the direct governor of Yemen.
Sumyafa' Ashwa al-Yazani, also known as Esimiphaios in Syriac and Greek sources, was a vassal king of Himyar, ruling in the 6th century CE under the Aksumite Empire. He was also the viceroy of the Aksumite king Kaleb, who had invaded Himyar and defeated Dhu Nuwas. Sumyafa' Ashwa was a native convert to Christianity.
Al-Abnāʾ was a term that was used in South Arabia to refer to a community of people who were descended from intermarriages between Persian soldiers and local Arab women, particularly in the context of the Aksumite–Persian wars in the 6th century. The Persian army had been garrisoned in Sanaa and throughout Yemen after the region was re-conquered by the Persia-based Sasanian Empire in the 570s, indefinitely ending the rule of the Ethiopia-based Aksumite Empire in the Arabian Peninsula. Following the rise of Muhammad in the 7th century, most of the al-Abnāʾ community adopted Islam and subsequently played an active role in the early Muslim conquests.
Hassan Yuha'min al-Himyari, full name Hassan Yuha'min ibn Abu Karib As'ad ibn Hassan Malikikarib Yuha'min was a Himyarite king who ruled in the 5th century CE starting in a co-regency with his father, Abu Karib As'ad.
Sharhabil Yafar also known as 'Amr Mawthaban ibn Tubba' al-As'ad was a Himyari king who ruled between the years 428 until 457 CE. He was the youngest son of Abu Karib As'ad, and he shared power with his brother Hassan Yuha'min in 425 CE. Sharhabil is generally remembered for his contributions towards the historic Marib Dam.
Yatha' Amr Watar bin Yakarib Malik was one of the ancient Mukarrib of Saba, who ruled in the last two decades of the eighth century BC.
Marthad'ilan Yu'nim real name Marthad ibn Lakhni'ah ibn Sharhabil Yakkuf al-Himyari, was a king of Himyar who reigned in the late 5th century CE, although his reign had also been dated to the early sixth century CE. After his rule, according to the historian Christian J. Robin, there is a period of fifteen years with no named ruler in inscriptions, hence implying a period of political disorder after his demise.
Marthad'ilan Yanuf was a king of Himyar who reigned in the early 6th century CE. He is the first Christian to officially become the ruler of Himyar.
'Abd-Kulāl al-Ḥimyarī, or simply Abdkulāl was a regent and former governor of Himyar who assisted during the rule of Sharhabil Yafar and later Sharhabil Yakkuf. 'Abd-Kulal was an Ebionite Christian who concealed his faith in secret as the Himyarites were generally hostile against Christianity. The name of 'Abd-Kulal is also attested in one inscription dated to 463 CE. His son Marthad'ilan Yanuf would later become the ruler of Himyar starting from the early 6th century.
Ma'dikarib Ya'fur was a king of Himyar who reigned for six to seven years before Dhu Nuwas. Only two archaeological inscriptions mentioning him which date to the year 521 exist. In Arabian folklore, Ma'dikarib Ya'fur does not exist and is instead replaced by a person named Dhu Shanatir.
The Dhu Yazan also known as Al-Yazanin were a prominent Arab tribal clan and elite ruling family of Yemen that were affiliated with the Sabaean Kingdom and later on, the Himyarite Kingdom. They were ultimately deprived from their elite status and ruling by the Sasanian Empire, which controlled Yemen from 570 CE until 678 CE. The Arabian genealogists and historians trace their lineage to a man named 'Amir ibn Aslam who was given the title Dhu Yazan and was a contemporary of the Himyarite ruler Abu Karib, although the Dhu Yazan clan has existed way back during the time of Dhamar Ali Yuhabirr.
Tha'ran Ya'ub Yuhan'im was a ruler of the ancient Kingdoms of Saba' and Dhu-Raydan, which was located in present-day Yemen. The earliest mention of Tha'ran are inscriptions from the year 155 CE as part of a co-regency with his father, Dhamar Ali Yahbur. He went on to succeed his father around 175 CE, and ruled alone until 214.
The event of Yawm al-Nakhla was an armed conflict between the forces of the Himyarite Kingdom and the Tribes of Arabia which happened around the 3rd century CE in Pre-Islamic Mecca.