Mikhlaf
Mikhlaf (Arabic: مخلاف, plural Makhleef; مخاليف) was an administrative division in ancient Yemen and is a geographical term used in Yemen. According to Ya'qubi there were eighty-four Mikhlaf in Yemen.[1][2] The leader of the Mikhlaf is called Qil (Arabic: قيل, plural Aqial; أقيال).[3]
Overview
Makhleef were mini-kingdoms under the united kingdom of Saba' and Dhu Raydan.[1] In the second century AD, Shamir Yuhari'sh II extended the Kingdom of Saba and Dhu Raydan to the kingdom of Hadramout and kingdom of Yamnat and so the kings of that time adopted the long title "King of Saba, Dhu raydan, Hadrmawt and Yamant". They are also known as Tubba kings who established the second Himyarite Kingdom.[4] In the fifth century AD the Tubba king AbuKarib As'ad had the title "King of Saba', Dhu raydan, Hadramawt, Yamnat and his Arabs, on Tawdum (the high plateau) and Tihamah".[5] The system of Makhaleef expanded to these areas and was essential to control these areas.[1]
List of Makhaleef
The following list appears in al-Ya'qubi's Kitab al-Buldan and, with minor differences, in his Ta'rikh ibn Wadih. Neither list contains 84 names.[2]
- al-Yahsibayn
- Yakla
- Dhimar
- Tamu’
- Tyan
- Tamam
- Hamal
- Qudam
- Khaywan
- Sinhan
- Rayhan
- Jurash
- Sa'da
- al-Akhruj
- Majnah
- Haraz
- Hawzan
- Qufa'a
- al-Wazira
- al-Hujr
- al-Ma'afir
- 'Ayan
- al-Shawafi
- Jublan
- Wasab
- al-Sakun
- Shar'ab
- al-Janad
- Maswar
- al-Thujja
- al-Mazra'
- Hayran
- Ma’rib
- Hadhur
- 'Ulqan
- Rayshan
- Jayshan
- Nihm
- Baysh
- Dankan
- Qanawna
- Yaba
- Zanlf
- al-'Ursh of Jazan
- al-Khasuf
- al-Sa'id
- Balha, which is (also called) Mawr
- al-Mahjam
- al-Kadra’, which is (also called) Saham
- al-Ma'qir, which is (also called) Dhuwal
- Zabid
- Rima'
- al-Rakb
- Bani Majid
- Lahj
- Abyan
- Bayn al-Wadiyayn
- Alhan
- Hadramawt
- Muqra
- Hays
- Harad
- al-Haqlayn
- 'Ans
- Bani Amir
- Ma’dhin
- Humlan
- Dhl Jura
- Khawlan
- al-Sarw
- al-Dathina
- Kubayba
- Tabala
References
- ^ a b c Al-Akwa'a, Ismael (2009). Makhleef Al-Yaman. Sana'a, Yemen: Al-Jeel Al-Jadid Nashroon. pp. 8.
- ^ a b Gordon, Matthew S.; Robinson, Chase F.; Rowson, Everett K.; Fishbein, Michael (2017-12-07). The Works of Ibn Wāḍiḥ al-Yaʿqūbī (Volume 1): An English Translation. BRILL. p. 154. ISBN 9789004364141.
- ^ Tarcici, Adnan (1971). The Queen of Sheba's Land: Yemen (Arabia Felix). Nowfel.
- ^ "ملوك سبأ وذو ريدان وحضرموت ويمنات". www.uobabylon.edu.iq. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
- ^ Tabari (1999-11-04). The History of al-Tabari Vol. 5: The Sasanids, the Byzantines, the Lakhmids, and Yemen. SUNY Press. ISBN 9780791497227.