Esimiphaios

Esimiphaios or Samu Yafa'[1] (Musnad: π©ͺ𐩣𐩺𐩰𐩲 𐩱𐩦π©₯𐩲) was a local Christian lord, domestically known as (Arabic: Ω‚ΩŠΩ„β€Ž, translit. QΔ“l)[2], mentioned in an inscription celebrating the burning of an ancient Sabaean palace in Marib to build a church on its ruins.[3] Three new churches were built in Najran alone.[3]

History

A tripartite military alliance of Byzantine, Aksumite and Arab Christians successfully defeated Dhu Nuwas around 525–527 CE and a Christian client king, Esimiphaios (as referred to by Procopius)[1], was installed by Kaleb on the Himyarite throne.[4]

Many tribes did not recognize Esimiphaios's authority. Esimiphaios was displaced in 531 by a warrior named Abraha, who refused to leave Yemen and declared himself an independent king of Himyar. Emperor Justinian I sent an embassy to Yemen. He wanted the officially Christian Himyarites to use their influence on the tribes in inner Arabia to launch military operations against Persia. Justinian I bestowed the dignity of king upon the Arab sheikhs of Kindah and Ghassan in central and north Arabia.[5] From early on, Roman and Byzantine policy was to develop close links with the powers of the coast of the Red Sea. They were successful in converting Aksum and influencing their culture. The results with regard to Yemen were rather disappointing.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Francis E. Peters (1994). Muhammad and the Origins of Islam. SUNY Press. p. 55. ISBN 9780791418758.
  2. ↑ Roger D. Woodard (2008). The ancient language of Syria, Palestine and ancient Arabia. Cambridge University Press. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-511-39338-9.
  3. 1 2 Angelika Neuwirth; Nicolai Sinai; Michael Marx (2010). The Quran in Context: Historical and Literary Investigations Into the Quranic Milieu. BRILL. p. 49. ISBN 9004176888.
  4. ↑ D. W. Phillipson (2012). Foundations of an African Civilisation: Aksum and the Northern Horn, 1000 BC – AD 1300. Boydell & Brewer Ltd. p. 204. ISBN 1847010415.
  5. 1 2 Scott Johnson (1 November 2012). The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press. p. 293. ISBN 0195336933.
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