This article reconstructs the history of a Zaydi sayyid clan, the Āl Shams al-Dīn, their rise to prominence prior to the Ottoman conquest of Yemen and their continued success in maintaining their... Show moreThis article reconstructs the history of a Zaydi sayyid clan, the Āl Shams al-Dīn, their rise to prominence prior to the Ottoman conquest of Yemen and their continued success in maintaining their status at the top of Yemeni socio-political hierarchies over four centuries. The article explains the reasons for the success of the family as resilient local rulers and argues that the ability of the lords of Kawkabān to build alliances with the Ottomans was a necessary step for them to keep their special status in the next state formed in Yemen—the Qasimid imamate. Their alliance with the Ottomans is placed in a broader context for comparison. Through the analysis of the position of the family in early modern Yemen continuities between three successive political regimes are demonstrated. Show less
The Zaydi imamate in Yemen was one of the longest surviving states in Muslim history. How did Zaydi imams maintain control over a region that appears impossible to rule? A Marie Skłodowska-Curie... Show moreThe Zaydi imamate in Yemen was one of the longest surviving states in Muslim history. How did Zaydi imams maintain control over a region that appears impossible to rule? A Marie Skłodowska-Curie project studies the strategies and legacies of this polity. Show less
