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High & Late Middle Ages1066 CE – 1168 CEPeak: 215,442 km² (1068 CE)

Najahid Dynasty: Map & History

The Najahid dynasty was a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Abyssinian Mamluks that ruled parts of Yemen from 1022-1158 from its capital at Zabīd.

5.5
1066 CEDrag timeline:1068 CE1168 CE
1066 CE
1100 CE
1125 CE
1150 CE
1168 CE
Capital: ZabidPeak Extent: 215,442 km²Vector Attribution: Cliopatria (CC BY 4.0)Wikidata: Q1411866 ↗
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Wikipedia: Najahid dynasty
Najahid dynasty historical cartography
Sunni Muslim dynasty of Abyssinian Mamluks (r. 1022–1158)

The Najahid dynasty was a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Abyssinian Mamluks that ruled parts of Yemen from 1022-1158 from its capital at Zabīd. Najah would obtain the recognition of the Abbasid Caliph al-Qadir and would be given the honorific title 'al- Mu'ayyad Nasr al-din'. They faced hostilities from the Shia Ismailis Sulayhids who were loyal to the Fatimids. Their last sovereign was killed by Ali ibn Mahdi the Kharijite in 1158.

Capital / Seat
Zabid
Common Languages
Arabic
Imperial Currency
Dinar
State Governance
Emirate
Historical Religion
Sunni Islam
Peak Territory
215,442 km²
Key Dynasts / Leaders
Najah, Al-Fatiq III
Preceded By
Ziyadids
Succeeded By
Mahdids
Content & infobox metadata adapted from Wikipedia (Najahid dynasty)

Modern Countries Once Part of Najahid Dynasty

At its mapped extent, Najahid Dynasty covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.

States and Provinces

Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.

Najahid Dynasty in Depth

History

The last Ziyadid king died in 1018, leaving a child behind. The guardianship of the child was eventually assumed by a Nubian slave named Hussein ibn Salama. Husayn ibn Salamah saved the Ziyadid Dynasty from total collapse after a devastating attack by the Yu'firids. Prior to the ascendance of Najahids, the south-western coast of Yemen and Saudi Arabia (Tihama) was dominated by two competing kingdoms since the 9th century; the Yufirids in the city of Sana, and the Ziyadids in the city of Zabid. Husayn recovered the original limits of the Ziyadid kingdom. Husayn ibn Salamah is renowned for his construction work on Zabid.

Origins

In Yemen, despite its proximity to the African mainland, enslaved soldiers hailed from diverse origins. The presence of military slaves in the region dates back to the 1st millennium and persisted into the early modern era. At its zenith, the Himyarite Kingdom exerted significant influence over large portion of the Arabian Peninsula through its subordinate, the Kinda tribe, who acted as auxiliaries. Initially, soldiers from Abyssinia formed the majority of these military slaves during the Ziyadid era (818-1018). However, they were largely replaced by Turkish and Circassian slaves during the Ayyubid (1171–1260), Rasulid (1229–1454), and Tahirid (1454–1517) dynasties.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Najahid dynasty (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Najahid Dynasty: Key Facts

Key facts about Najahid Dynasty
Dissolved1158

Facts from Wikidata Q1411866 (CC0).

Najahid Dynasty Map Over Time

Dated world maps on which Najahid Dynasty appears, with the other states of the time.

Najahid Dynasty Timeline

Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion

1 Epochs
Territorial Apex1068 CE

Expansion to peak recorded area of 215,442 km² in 1068 CE.

Najahid Dynasty: Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Najahid Dynasty exist?

The Najahid Dynasty is dated to 1066 CE – 1168 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.

What was the capital of the Najahid Dynasty?

The capital of the Najahid Dynasty was Zabid.

How large was the Najahid Dynasty at its peak?

At its peak in 1068 AD the Najahid Dynasty covered about 215,442 km².