Axumite King Kaleb's Himyarite Crusade and Aftermath

After King Kaleb's victory over the Himyarite king Dhu Nuwas in 525 AD, Axum controlled Yemen for half a century. But the war didn't end with Kaleb's triumph. This episode picks up where previous episodes left off, exploring the unraveling of Axumite rule in Himyar. We examine Abraha, the Axumite general who rebelled and established his own kingdom, ruling Yemen until his death around 570 AD. We discuss Abraha's ambitious building projects, including the famous Church of al-Qalis in Sana'a, and his military campaign against Mecca in the Year of the Elephant. We also cover the struggle for succession after Abraha's death, the brief rule of his son Yaksum, and the eventual Persian conquest of Yemen in 575 AD under general Vahriz. The episode reflects on how Axum's overextension in Yemen contributed to its decline, draining resources and weakening its hold on the Red Sea trade. We consider the Sassanid and Byzantine rivalry that shaped the region and the legacy of this forgotten African empire's last major foreign adventure. #Axum #Kaleb #Himyar #DhuNuwas #Abraha #Yemen #YearOfTheElephant #AlQalis #Sassanids #Byzantine #Vahriz #RedSea #6thCentury #AfricanHistory #AncientEmpires #History #FexingoHistory #Negus #KingdomOfAxum #AksumiteEmpire Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo