Tubbaʿ

The Tubbaʿ kings were rulers of much of southern Arabia, primarily in present-day Yemen, from approximately 115 BCE to 525 CE. Originally an important tribe within the Sabaean kingdom, the Tubbaʿ rose to power, eventually uniting Yemen under their rule in the late 3rd century CE. Their capital was initially at Zafar, later moving to Sanaa.12

During the 4th century CE, a shift occurred from polytheism to a monotheistic worship of "The Merciful". The Tubbaʿ kings also engaged with neighboring powers, including diplomatic missions to the Sasanian court and conflicts with the kingdom of Aksum. A significant event was the persecution of Christians by King Yūsuf As’ar Yath’ar, which led to an Aksumite invasion and the eventual defeat of the Tubbaʿ. Following this, Yemen experienced periods of Aksumite rule and later Persian influence before peacefully accepting Islam in the early 7th century CE.31