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.
Sharhabil Yakkuf also known as Šaraḥbiʾil Yakûf and credited in Arabian folklore as Tubba' ibn al-Hassan, was a Himyari king who ruled between the years 465 until 480 CE. He succeeded Sharhabil Yafar in kingship, although a portion of his first year of rule was with the regent 'Abd-Kulal due to health complications.
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'ilan Yu'nim ibn Lakhni'ah Yanuf ibn Sharhabil Yakkuf al-Himyari, was a king of Himyar who reigned in the late 5th century CE. After his rule, 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.
