Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan (Maʾdikarib)
سيف بن ذي يزن (معد يكرب)
The Himyarite noble who led Yemen’s liberation from Abyssinian rule with Persian help in 575 CE and was made king; his assassination by his own Abyssinian bodyguard ended the royal house of Dhu Yazan and opened direct Persian rule.
At a glance
- Era
- Pre-Islamic Arabia
- Region
- Arabia
- Review
- Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it
Place in the story
Unknown (debated)
Roles are dated and sourced; the museum describes the act and attributes the judgement.
Overview
Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan al-Himyari (Ma'di Yakrib): leader of Yemen's liberation from the Abyssinians in 575 CE, and its king, assassinated by his Abyssinian guard.
Life
The Yemenis sought the Persians' aid after the Elephant affair and mounted resistance to the Abyssinians under Ma'di Yakrib ibn Sayf Dhi Yazan al-Himyari until they drove them out of the land in 575 CE and made him king 1.
He kept with him a band of Abyssinians who served him and walked in his retinue — and one day they assassinated him. With his death kingship departed the house of Dhi Yazan, and Kisra appointed a Persian governor over San'a' 1.
For young visitors
Sayf Dhi Yazan freed Yemen from the Abyssinians and became king, but his own guards killed him — and Persia ruled it.
Connections
- Ruler of
- Yemen
- Member of
- Himyar
- Participated in
- Liberation and Persian Rule of Yemen
People and things also explored
Badhan (last Persian governor of Yemen)Dhu Nuwas (Yusuf Asʾar Yathʾar)Liberation and Persian Rule of YemenNasrYemenThe Second Abyssinian Occupation of YemenAbrahaAryat (Abraha’s predecessor in Yemen)
Sources
- al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan (Maʾdikarib)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/sayf-ibn-dhi-yazan/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-12.