Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition

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Hamdānids
(774 words)

, three families of the Banū Hamdān whose tribal rule over Ṣanʿāʾ and its dependencies extended from 481-570/1088-1175. Throughout Yemen’s long history of political anarchy, the large and powerful tribe of Hamdān [q.v.], many of whose members were S̲h̲īʿī, either of the Zaydī or Ismāʿīlī sect, often imposed their rule over Ṣanʿāʾ and its environs whenever there was a decline of a larger dynastic state. Such was the case with the weakening of the Ṣulayḥid [q.v.] dynasty, whose members were of a sub-tribe of the Hamdān, towards the end of the 5th/11th century.

Upon the transfer of the cap…

Cite this page
Geddes, C.L., “Hamdānids”, in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs. Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1573-3912_islam_SIM_2667>
First published online: 2012
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004161214, 1960-2007



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