ZIYADID DYNASTY

Muslim dynasty that ruled Yemen in the period 8191018 from its capital at Zabid. The 'Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun transferred the rule of Yemen to the Ziyad family to offset the intrigues of the 'Alidsthe Shi'ite opponents of the 'Abbasidswho had made southern Arabia their headquarters. The first Ziyadid, Muhammad ibn Ziyad, firmly established himself along the Yemeni coast (Tihamah) with the support of a Khorasanian army and cavalry; he was also recognized by the tribal chiefs along the edges of the highlands. San'a' in the interior, however, remained under 'Abbasid control, and, when the Banu Ya'furthe pre-Islamic nobilityset up an independent dynasty there in 859, they soon forced the Ziyadi ruler Ibrahim ibn Muhammad (859902) to cede territory in return for tribute. More territory, including Zabid itself, was lost to the sectarian Qarmatians after Ibrahim's death, and records of his successor have been obscured. Abu al-Jaysh Ishaq, however, restored Ziyadid power and territory in a celebrated reign (904981). In 989 the Ziyadid capital was seized and burned by the Banu Ya'fur, and effective power passed from the Ziyadids to their Ethiopian slave-viziers. The Mamluk (slave) al-Husayn ibn Salamah, who had preserved the kingdom from collapse after the Ya'furid attack, was succeeded by his slave Marjan, who divided the government of the kingdom between two other Mamluks, the northern provinces falling to Najah, the capital and southern regions coming under the rule of Nafis. In 1018 the last Ziyadid ruler was murdered by Nafis. Control of Zabid finally fell to Najah, however, and in 1022 the Najahids began their rule in Yemen.