Al-Mansur Abdallah
Al-Mansur Abdallah (February 24, 1166 - April 21, 1217), was an
Zaidi state in Yemen
who held the imamate from 1187 (or 1197) to 1217.
Background
Abdallah bin Hamzah was born in the village Ayshan in the territory of the
al-Mutawakkil Ahmad bin Sulayman in 1171. Abdallah made a proclamation in Jawf
in 1187. Although acknowledged by several men of standing, his attempt to gain power over the Zaidi community was a failure, and he withdrew to Jawf.
Renewed call for the imamate
By this time, the main external threat against the Zaidis was the
fermented drinks on the ground.[5] The Mutarrifiyyah sect, which was considered heretic, was mercilessly crushed and its mosque near San'a was torn down on the orders of al-Mansur.[6]
Struggles over San'a
In 1197, Sultan Ali allied with al-Mansur Abdullah and fought against Mu'izz ad-Din Isma'il, the Ayyubid sultan in Yemen. The allies were heavily defeated at
Kurdish emir, Haku bin Muhammad, and the Mamluk Shams al-Khawass, subsequently fell away from the Ayyubids and joined the Zaidi camp. The imam and Shams al-Khawass seized San'a, which momentarily stood under an Ayyubid governor. Nevertheless, the two allies immediately fell out with each other, since Shams al-Khawass was suspicious of the imam's influence among the masses. The imam had to sneak out of San'a with great effort, but managed to reach his troops outside the city walls and took possession of the city. In 1198, a new Ayyubid army marched towards San'a but was defeated by the Zaidi forces at Dhamar. Shortly afterwards, however, San'a was captured by still another Ayyubid contingent, and al-Mansur Abdullah withdrew to the mountainous stronghold Thula.[7]
Continuing struggles against the Ayyubids
In the following years, the inconclusive Zaidi struggle against the Ayyubids wore on. San'a was in the hands of the imam for several short terms. In 1203, the imam strengthened the fortress of
Asir, where they pursued their own secular policy, allying with the Zaidi imams, the Sulaymanid Sharifs, and the Rassids according to opportunities.[9]
See also
- Rassids
- Imams of Yemen
- History of Yemen
References
- ^ The line of descent is: al-Muhtasib al-Mujahid Hamzah - Ali - Hamzah - Sulayman - Hamzah - al-Mansur Abdallah.
- ^ Madeleine Schneider, 'Les inscriptions arabes de l'ensemble architectural de Zafar-Dhi Bin (Yémen du Nord)', Journal asiatique 273 1985, p. 66.
- ^ Encyclopaedia of Islam, Vol. VI. Leiden 1991, p. 433; Madeleine Schneider 1985, p. 70.
- ^ Carl Brockelmann, Geschichte der arabischen Litteratur, Vol. I. Leiden 1943, p. 509; The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature; Abbasid Belles-Lettres. Cambridge 1990, p. 462.
- ^ Madeleine Schneider 1985, p. 70.
- ^ Cambridge History of Arabic Literature, 1990, p. 462.
- ^ R.B. Serjeant & R. Lewcock, San'a'; An Arabian Islamic City. London 1983, pp. 61-2.
- ^ R.B. Serjeant & R. Lewcock, 1983, p. 63.
- ^ Robert W. Stookey, Yemen; The Politics of the Yemen Arab Republic. Boulder 1978, p. 110.
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