The Tahirid Dynasty: Yemen's Last Native Sunni Kingdom

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Tahirid dynasty, Yemen's last native Sunni kingdom before the Ottoman conquest. Centered in Zabid, the Tahirids ruled from 1454 to 1517, controlling the Tihama and highlands. Lucas details the rise of 'Amir bin Tahir, who overthrew the Rasulids, and the dynasty's patronage of Shafi'i scholarship and architecture, including the Ashrafiyya Mosque. He discusses their precarious position between the Zaidi imams in the north, the Mamluk sultanate in Egypt, and Portuguese incursions in the Red Sea. The episode highlights key figures like Sultan 'Amir bin 'Abd al-Wahhab, who fought the Mamluks, and the dynasty's end when the Mamluk sultan Qansuh al-Ghawri conquered Zabid in 1517. Lucas also touches on the Tahirids' role in fostering Sufi networks and trade with Africa and India, and how their fall paved the way for Ottoman rule. The conversation offers a nuanced look at a forgotten golden age of Yemeni history.

#Tahirid #Yemen #Zabid #AshrafiyyaMosque #SultanAmir #Mamluk #Zaidi #Shafi'i #Sufi #RedSea #Portuguese #QansuhalGhawri #Ottoman #Tihama #15thCentury #IslamicHistory #History #FexingoHistory

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo