Marthad'ilan Yu'nim Explained

Marthad'ilan Yu'nim
King of Saba', Dhu Raydan, Hadramawt, Yamnat and their Arabs, on Tawdum and Tihamat
Type:King
Reign:
  • 480–485 CE (High chronology)
  • 480–504 CE (Low chronology)
Predecessor:Sharhabil Yakkuf and Lakhni'ah Yanuf
Successor:Marthad'ilan Yanuf
Death Place:Yemen
Consort:no
Full Name:Marthad ibn Lakhni'ah Yanuf al-Himyari
Regnal Name:Marthad'ilan Yu'nim
Father:Lakhni'ah Yanuf
Religion:Judaism

Marthad'ilan Yu'nim (Arabic: مرثد ألن ينعم) also known as Marthad al-Khayr, was a Himyarite king who primarily reigned in the late 5th century CE. He is known for his involvement in the Basus War.

Name

As attested in inscriptions, his name is Marthad'ilan Yu'nim; his full name being Marthad ibn Lakhni'ah Yanuf al-Himyari. In the books of Arab heritage, his name is Marthad al-Khayr ibn Dhi Jadan. The word Yun'im is Himyaritic for "blessed" which is al-Khayr in Arabic.

Reign

Marthad'ilan Yu'nim started his reign in the year 480. According to the inscription YM 1200, he constructed a synagogue and repaired an unknown monotheistic place of worship known as a Kenesit.[1] [2] Christian J. Robin believed his reign ended in the year 485 CE however there is an inscription dated to 502 CE which does mention his name along with his siblings; the inscription also does not mention him with royal titles.[3] According to the Arabian traditions, Marthad'ilan Yu'nim was succeeded by a king named Qarmal.[4]

Military campaigns

During the Basus War, large-scale riots between Banu Asad and Banu Bakr occurred in Yemen. Marthad'ilan Yu'nim sent a force of five hundred soldiers to restore order and quell the riots.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies, volume 28, pages 81–88. 1998.
  2. Book: The Oxford handbook of late antiquity . 2012 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-533693-1 . Oxford handbooks . Oxford New York.
  3. Robin . Christian Julien . 2023-12-31 . La guerre en Arabie au iiie siècle de l’ère chrétienne, d’après les faits d’armes d’un prince ḥimyarite . Syria. Archéologie, art et histoire . fr . 100 . 211–281 . 10.4000/syria.15420 . 0039-7946 . free.
  4. Book: Abu Abdullah al-Zanjani . Kitab Sharh al-Tafasir al-Sabi'a . Shamela . 26.