The Himyarite Kingdom (anciently called the Homerite Kingdom by the Greeks and the Romans), was a state in ancient Yemen dating from 110 B.C.T. It conquered neighboring Saba (Sheba) around 25 B.C.T., Qataban around 200 C.C., and Hadramaut around 300 C.C. Its political fortunes relative to Saba (Sheba) changed frequently until it finally conquered the Sabaean Kingdom around 280 C.C.
The Himyarite Kingdom was the dominant state in Arabia until 525 C.C. The economy was based on agriculture. Foreign trade was based on the export of frankincense and myrrh. For many years, the Himyarite Kingdom was also the major intermediary linking East Africa and the Mediterranean world. This trade largely consisted of exporting ivory from Africa to be sold in the Roman Empire. Ships from Himyar regularly traveled the East African coast, and the state also exerted a considerable amount of political control of the trading cities of East Africa.
Between 110 B.C.T. and 300 C.C. the Himyarite Kingdom conquered the Kingdom of Sheba and took Redan for its capital instead of Ma’rib. Later on, Redan was called "Zifar." Its ruins still lie on Mudawwar Mountain near the town of "Yarim." During this period, they began to decline and fall. Their trade failed to a very great extent, firstly, because of the Nabetean domain over the north of Hijaz; secondly, because of the Roman superiority over the naval trade routes after the Roman conquest of Egypt, Syria and the north of Hijaz; and thirdly, because of inter-tribal warfare. Due to these factors, the families of Qahtan were disunited and scattered about all over Arabia.
After 300 C.C., the Himyarite Kingdom experienced a great deal of disorder and turmoil. The great many foreign and civil wars cost the people of Yemen their independence. During this era, the Aksumites invaded Tihama and Najran, making use of the constant intra-tribal conflict of Hamdan and Himyar. The Aksumite occupation of Tihama and Najran lasted until 378 C.C. Afterwards, Yemen expelled the Aksumites.
In the fifth century of the Christian calendar, several kings of Himyar are known to have converted to Judaism. The political context in which these conversions occurred centered on the position of Arabia between the competing empires of Christian Byzantium and Zoroastrian Persia. Neutrality, and good trade relations with both empires, was essential to the prosperity of the Arabian trade routes. It is theorized that the Himyarite kings choice of Judaism may have been an attempt at maintaining neutrality.
However, the conversion of Abu-Kariba was not an overt attempt to maintain neutrality but rather was a healing response.
Around 500 C.C., Abu-Kariba Assad, the King of Himyar, undertook a military expedition into northern Arabia in an effort to eliminate Byzantine influence. The Byzantine emperors had long eyed the Arabian Peninsula as a region in which to extend their influence, thereby to control the lucrative spice trade and the route to India. Without actually staging a conquest of the region, the Byzantines hoped to establish a protectorate over the pagan Arabs by converting them to Christianity. The cross would then bear commercial advantages as it did in Ethiopia. The Byzantines had made some progress in northern Arabia but had met with little success in Himyar.
Abu-Kariba’s forces reached Yathrib and, meeting no resistance and not expecting any treachery from the inhabitants, passed through the city, leaving a son of the king behind as governor. Scarcely had Abu-Kariba proceeded farther, when he received news that the people of Yathrib had killed his son. Smitten with grief, Abu-Kariba turned back in order to wreak bloody vengeance on the city. After cutting down the palm trees from which the inhabitants derived their main income, Abu-Kariba laid siege to the city.
The Jews of Yathrib fought side by side with pagan fellow inhabitants to defend their town and harried the besiegers with sudden sallies. During the siege, Abu-Kariba fell severely ill. Two Jewish scholars in Yathrib, Kaab and Assad by name, hearing of their enemy’s misfortune, called on the Abu-Kariba in his camp and used their knowledge of medicine to restore him to health. While attending Abu-Kariba, the Jews pleaded with Abu-Kariba to lift the siege and make peace.
The sages’ appeal is said to have persuaded Abu-Kariba . He called off his attack and also embraced Judaism along with his entire army. At his insistence, the two Jewish savants accompanied the Himyarite king back to his capital, where he demanded that all his people convert to Judaism.
Initially, there was great resistance. However, after an "ordeal" had justified the king’s demand and confirmed the "truth" of the Jewish faith, many Himyarites embraced Judaism. The conversions, however, were not total, and there remained as many pagans as Jews in the land.
Conversions, by ordeal, were not uncommon in Arabia. Some historians argue that the conversions occurred, not due to political motivations, but because Judaism, by its philosophical, simplistic and austere nature, was attractive to the nature of the Semitic people. In any event, it is known that by the sixth and seventh centuries of the Christian calendar, Judaism flourished in Himyar.
As for Abu-Kariba, his reign did not last long after his conversion to Judaism. His warlike nature prevented him from maintaining peace and prompted him to engage in bold enterprises. It is uncertain how Abu-Kariba met his death. However, some scholars believe that his own soldiers, worn out by constant campaigning, killed him.
After the demise of Abu-Kariba, a pagan named Dhu-Shanatir seized the throne.
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