Yuhaqim Yurzih

Yuhaqim Yurzih Bin Dhamar Ali Dharih Bin Karb Il Watar Yahan'am (ca. 50 AD - 95 AD): King of Sheba and Dhu Raydan.

Life & kingdom

He assumed the throne of Sheba between 85 AD and approximately 95 AD, succeeding Karb's sister El-Bein III. Two inscriptions were found from the reign of King Yahakim, all dated to the month of Dhul-Midhra in the year 200 AH in the Himyarite calendar, corresponding to July 90 AD. (The two inscriptions are dated: Kh-Jarf an-Naʿīmīya 4,5).

We have a number of inscriptions from the period of Jehakim's reign, of which his name is mentioned in 11 inscriptions. At the beginning of his reign, he carried the double title (King of Sheba and Dh Raydan), which was the title given to his brother, father, and grandfather. Then it was changed after that to (King of Sheba), which indicates that his kingdom during a certain period was not extensive and that his authority was diminished. Rather, it was limited to Sheba. . During his reign, his uncle Umdan Yahqab turned and declared himself king of Sheba and Dhu Raydan from his capital, Dhofar Yarim. He was later able to ascend to the throne of Ma’rib for a period. build the Amdan Yahqab Gate in the Awwam Temple, and mint coins in his name in Raydan Palace. Some researchers believe that Amdan Yahqab was king of Dhofar Yarim during the reign of his father, Karb Il Watar Yahnoam I, and that Amdan Yahqab disputed with his nephews Dhamar Ali Dharih after his death, which led to the separation of (Ma’rib and Dhofar) during the reign of Dhamar Ali Dharih’s caliphs, and the conflict manifested itself clearly in Yahqab era.

The text (Ja 644) tells us: about a disobedience carried out by a man from the “Shaddad” tribe, and another man named “Rab Um bin Shams” and other men who joined them and supported their movement. They revolted against their master, “Yahaqim,” the king of Sheba and Dhu Raydan, attacked the Palace of Salhin, entered the palace of the kings and the seat of government, and took hold of it. Then a man named “Aws El,” who was from the Ghaiman tribe and was also its prince, attacked the rebels, defeated them, and expelled them from the palace. It appears that he took them by surprise, thus protecting the palace from harm, and they fled from Ma’rib. It appears from the text that the Shaddad tribe, coming from the highlands, was able to The occupation of Ma'rib and its royal palaces for a period, which indicates the weakness of the state during the time of Yahqam, and the superiority of his uncle Amdan Yahqad in attracting the tribes of the highlands, the most important of which is the Shaddad tribe.The tribe took the title “Shaddad Yahqad,” which is a clear reference to its main role during the reign of King Amdan Yahqad. . In the text (Ja 878) there were information of battles that took place during the days of “Yahqim,” king of Sheba and Dhu Raydan, but the text was damaged and lost in places.

Yahaqim went to war against his uncle Amdan Yahqab, the ruler of Raydan, and, against the followers of Dhu Raydan. He destroyed the villages of Illah, and his forces reached the area of Al-Hadd in Yafa. Ilah is a place mentioned by Abu Muhammad Al-Hamdani in the Himyar cypress. There is also information about of a war launched by Yahaqim against the Raydanian near the Hakar region in Saru Himyar, which included the lands of the Radman tribe, Madhah and beyond, in the year 200 AH in the Himyarite calendar, corresponding to June and July of the year 90 AD.

There is a text(Al-Qayli - Bani Mahdi 1)  , as well, which talks  About the building of a house by a man called Thawab under the authority of their master, Ihaqim Yarzah bin Dhammar, Ali Dharih, King of Sheba. Another text (CIH 143), written down by a man from the Bakil tribe, brings the name of the king, Ihaqim. However, parts of the text were damaged, spoiling the meaning.The title Yahaqim was dropped from the text due to breakage or damage.