Editing History of Yemen (section)

===Sulayhid Dynasty===
{{Main|Sulayhid dynasty}}
[[File:Jibla IMG 5662.JPG|thumb|[[Jibla, Yemen|Jibla]] became the capital of the [[Sulayhid dynasty]]]]
The [[Sulayhid dynasty]] was founded in the northern highlands around 1040. At the time, Yemen was ruled by different local dynasties.
In 1060, [[Ali al-Sulayhi|Ali ibn Mohammed Al-Sulayhi]] conquered [[Zabid]] and killed its ruler Al-Najah, founder of the Najahid dynasty, whose sons were forced to flee to [[Dahlak Archipelago|Dahlak]].<ref>J. D. Fage, Roland Anthony Oliver. (1977). ''The Cambridge History of Africa, Volume 3'' p. 119 Cambridge University Press {{ISBN|0521209811}}</ref> [[Hadramawt]] fell into Sulayhid hands after their capture of [[Aden]] in 1062.<ref>William Charles Brice. (1981). ''An Historical Atlas of Islam [cartographic Material]'', p. 338. BRILL {{ISBN|9004061169}}</ref> By 1063, Ali had subjugated [[Greater Yemen]].<ref>Farhad Daftary. (2005). ''Ismailis in Medieval Muslim Societies: A Historical Introduction to an Islamic Community'' p. 92 I.B. Tauris {{ISBN|1845110919}}</ref> He then marched toward [[Hejaz]] and occupied [[Makkah]].<ref>Farhad Daftary. (2007). ''The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines'', p. 199. Cambridge University Press {{ISBN|1139465783}}</ref> Ali was married to [[Asma bint Shihab]], who governed Yemen with her husband.<ref name="autogenerated14">Fatima Mernissi. (1977). ''The Forgotten Queens of Islam'', p. 14. U of Minnesota Press {{ISBN|0816624399}}</ref> The [[Khutba]] during [[Jumu'ah|Friday prayers]] was proclaimed in her husband's and her name. No other Arab woman had this honor since the advent of [[Islam]].<ref name="autogenerated14"/>

[[Ali al-Sulayhi]] was killed by Najah's sons on his way to [[Mecca]] in 1084. His son [[Ahmad al-Mukarram]] led an army to [[Zabid]] and killed 8,000 of its inhabitants.<ref>{{cite book |author=Mohammed Abdo Al-Sururi |script-title=ar:الحياة السياسية ومظاهر الحضارة في اليمن في عهد الدو المستقلة |trans-title=political life and aspects of civilization in Yemen during the reign of Independent States |year=1987 |publisher=University of Sana'a |page=237 |language=ar}}</ref> He later installed the [[Zurayids]] to govern [[Aden]]. [[Ahmad al-Mukarram]], who had been afflicted with facial paralysis resulting from war injuries, retired in 1087 and handed over power to his wife [[Arwa al-Sulayhi]].<ref>Farhad Daftary. (2005). ''Ismailis in Medieval Muslim Societies: A Historical Introduction to an Islamic Community'' p. 93 I.B. Tauris {{ISBN|1845110919}}</ref> [[Arwa al-Sulayhi|Queen Arwa]] moved the seat of the [[Sulayhid dynasty]] from [[Sana'a]] to [[Jibla, Yemen|Jibla]], a small town in central Yemen near [[Ibb]]. Jibla was strategically near the [[Sulayhid dynasty]] source of wealth, the agricultural central highlands. It was also within easy reach of the southern portion of the country, especially [[Aden]]. She sent [[Ismaili]] missionaries to [[India]] where a significant Ismaili community was formed that exists to this day.<ref name="Caton p51">Steven C. Caton. (2013). ''Yemen'', p. 51. ABC-CLIO {{ISBN|159884928X}}</ref> Queen Arwa continued to rule securely until her death in 1138.<ref name="Caton p51" />
[[File:Queen Arwa al- Sulaihi Palace 1.jpg|thumb|Queen Arwa al- Sulaihi Palace]]
[[Arwa al-Sulayhi]] is still remembered as a great and much loved sovereign, as attested in Yemeni historiography, literature, and popular lore, where she is referred to as '' Balqis al-sughra '', that is "the junior queen of Sheba".<ref>{{cite book |author=Bonnie G. Smith |title=The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History |year=2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0195148909 |volume=4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/oxfordencycloped0000unse_k2h2/page/163 163] |language=ar |url=https://archive.org/details/oxfordencycloped0000unse_k2h2/page/163 }}</ref> Although the Sulayhids were Ismaili, they never tried to impose their beliefs on the public.<ref>{{cite book |author=Mohammed Abdo Al-Sururi |script-title=ar:الحياة السياسية ومظاهر الحضارة في اليمن في عهد الدو المستقلة |trans-title=political life and aspects of civilization in Yemen during the reign of Independent States |year=1987 |publisher=University of Sana'a |page=414 |language=ar}}</ref> Shortly after queen Arwa's death, the country was split between five competing petty dynasties along religious lines.<ref>{{cite book |author=Mohammed Abdo Al-Sururi |script-title=ar:الحياة السياسية ومظاهر الحضارة في اليمن في عهد الدو المستقلة |trans-title=political life and aspects of civilization in Yemen during the reign of Independent States |year=1987 |publisher=University of Sana'a |page=303 |language=ar}}</ref> The [[Ayyubid dynasty]] overthrew the [[Fatimid caliphate]] in Egypt. A few years after their rise to power, [[Saladin]] dispatched his brother [[Turan Shah]] to conquer Yemen in 1174.<ref>{{cite book |author=Alexander Mikaberidze |title=Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia |year=2011 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1598843378 |page=159 }}</ref>