Axum vs Himyar: The Red Sea War That Changed Africa

In the 6th century AD, Axum, already a Christian empire at the height of its power, launched a military campaign across the Red Sea that would reshape the Middle East. This episode explores King Kaleb's invasion of Himyar (modern-day Yemen) in 525 AD — a war fought over religion and trade, chronicled by the contemporary historian Procopius. We examine the motives: a massacre of Christians in Najran by the Jewish Himyarite king Dhu Nuwas, the alliance with Byzantine emperor Justin I, the fleet of 70 ships assembled at Adulis, and the crucial battle that placed Kaleb's general on the Himyarite throne. We also ask: was this a genuine religious crusade or a calculated move to dominate the Red Sea trade routes? With names like Kaleb, Dhu Nuwas, Justin I, Procopius, and the Ethiopian saint Abreha, this episode dives into a pivotal and often overlooked conflict that linked Africa and Arabia. #Axum #Himyar #Kaleb #DhuNuwas #Najran #Procopius #JustinI #RedSea #Adulis #Yemen #Byzantine #ChristianHistory #JewishHistory #6thCentury #Abreha #AncientWarfare #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo