Tanukhids
Encyclopedia
The Tanûkhids or Tanukh were originally from the Qahtani ( Arabic : قحطانيون) confederation of Arab
tribes, sometimes characterized as Saracens. They first rose to prominence in northern Arabia and south of Syria
in the 3rd century BCE. Both Lakhmid and Tanukhid inscriptions have been found at Umm al-Jimal in Jordan
and Namara in Syria
.The ancient Tanukhi tribal confederation was largely taken over by several branches of the large Al Azd
tribe. They were joined in the 11th Century by other Qahtani tribes from Hadramaut, such as the Banu Ma'an
. The Ma'an tribe settled in the Lebanon Mountains on order of the governor of Damascus to defend against the encroaching Crusaders. Most Ma'an's in Lebanon later became Druze
.They were later defeated by a rival Qais
tribe who had also became Druze, the Qaysi Druze
.
In the late 2nd century, the tribe of Azd, from Hadhramaut
(Southern Arabia), migrated to al-Ahsa
where Tanukhids were settling. The tribe of Azd allied with the Tanukhids, becoming part of the confederation. The two sheikhs (tribal leaders) of Tanukh gave up the rule to certain Malik ibn Fahm the Azdite (196-231), who led them into Iraq and Oman, and after some skirmishes he controlled all of Oman, and parts of Iraq, he was succeded by his brother 'Amr ibn Fahm who reigned for a short period, later Jadhima ibn Malik reigned (233-268). He incorporated in war with Palmyra, and after its fall, he took control of much of the lands it previously controlled. After Jadhima's death, he was succeeded by his sister's son 'Amr ibn Adi
the Lakhmid, because Jadhima had no sons, thus establishing the Lakhmid dynasty. Other parts of Tanukh settled in Syria.
In the 4th century CE, the Tanukhids formed a major grouping of Rome's allies in the East, ranging from Syria
in the north to the Gulf of Aqaba
, areas into which they had migrated from southern Arabia after the rise of Sassanian influence in Yemen
a century previous. The Tanukhids played a key role in the defeat of Zenobia
's forces by Emperor Aurelian
and served as foederati
in the Roman East
. In 378, their Queen Mavia
led them in a revolt against Emperor Valens
. A truce was struck and was respected for a time, with Mavia even sending a fleet of cavalry in response to Roman requests for assistance in staving off an attack by the Goths
. The alliance crumbled under Theodosius I
, with the Tanukhids again revolting against Roman rule.
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
tribes, sometimes characterized as Saracens. They first rose to prominence in northern Arabia and south of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
in the 3rd century BCE. Both Lakhmid and Tanukhid inscriptions have been found at Umm al-Jimal in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and Namara in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.The ancient Tanukhi tribal confederation was largely taken over by several branches of the large Al Azd
Azd
The Azd or Al Azd, are an Arabian tribe. They were a branch of the Kahlan tribe, which was one of the two branches of Qahtan the other being Himyar.In the ancient times, they inhabited Ma'rib, the capital city of the Sabaean Kingdom in modern-day Yemen...
tribe. They were joined in the 11th Century by other Qahtani tribes from Hadramaut, such as the Banu Ma'an
Maan family
The Banu Ma'an tribe , were a tribe & dynasty of Qahtani Arab some of which later became Druze and rulers of the Lebanon Mountains during a period of the Ottoman Empire, and one of the most successful ruling dynasties in Druze history...
. The Ma'an tribe settled in the Lebanon Mountains on order of the governor of Damascus to defend against the encroaching Crusaders. Most Ma'an's in Lebanon later became Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
.They were later defeated by a rival Qais
Mudhar
Mudhar or Mudar , is one of two major branches of the "North arabian" tribes, the other branch being Rabi'ah....
tribe who had also became Druze, the Qaysi Druze
Battle of Ain Darra
The Battle of Ain Dara took place in the town of Ain Dara in 1711 between the Qaysi and Yemeni Druze, with the Qaysis victorious.-Background:Traditionally there had been two Druze socio-political branches living in the Jabal ash-Shuf region: the Yemeni were headed by the Harmouche and Alam ed-Din...
.
In the late 2nd century, the tribe of Azd, from Hadhramaut
Hadhramaut
Hadhramaut, Hadhramout, Hadramawt or Ḥaḍramūt is the formerly independent Qu'aiti state and sultanate encompassing a historical region of the south Arabian Peninsula along the Gulf of Aden in the Arabian Sea, extending eastwards from Yemen to the borders of the Dhofar region of Oman...
(Southern Arabia), migrated to al-Ahsa
Al-Hasa
Al-Ahsa is the largest governorate in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, named after Al-Ahsa oasis. The name Al-Ahsa is also given to the biggest city in the region, Hofuf. In classic Arabic, Ahsa means the sound of water underground. It has one of the largest oases in the world with Date Palms of...
where Tanukhids were settling. The tribe of Azd allied with the Tanukhids, becoming part of the confederation. The two sheikhs (tribal leaders) of Tanukh gave up the rule to certain Malik ibn Fahm the Azdite (196-231), who led them into Iraq and Oman, and after some skirmishes he controlled all of Oman, and parts of Iraq, he was succeded by his brother 'Amr ibn Fahm who reigned for a short period, later Jadhima ibn Malik reigned (233-268). He incorporated in war with Palmyra, and after its fall, he took control of much of the lands it previously controlled. After Jadhima's death, he was succeeded by his sister's son 'Amr ibn Adi
'Amr ibn Adi
Amr ibn Adi ibn Nasr ibn Rabia ibn Namarah ibn Lakhm is the first Lakhmid king. He inherited the kingdom of uncle Jadhima . 'Amr was born with a golden spoon, spoiled and cared-for by his mother Raqush and her brother Jadhima, and because of his extreme beauty his mother veiled him in his childhood...
the Lakhmid, because Jadhima had no sons, thus establishing the Lakhmid dynasty. Other parts of Tanukh settled in Syria.
In the 4th century CE, the Tanukhids formed a major grouping of Rome's allies in the East, ranging from Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
in the north to the Gulf of Aqaba
Gulf of Aqaba
The Gulf of Aqaba is a large gulf located at the northern tip of the Red Sea. In pre twentieth-century and modern sources it is often named the Gulf of Eilat, as Eilat is its predominant Israeli city ....
, areas into which they had migrated from southern Arabia after the rise of Sassanian influence in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
a century previous. The Tanukhids played a key role in the defeat of Zenobia
Zenobia
Zenobia was a 3rd-century Queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Roman Syria. She led a famous revolt against the Roman Empire. The second wife of King Septimius Odaenathus, Zenobia became queen of the Palmyrene Empire following Odaenathus' death in 267...
's forces by Emperor Aurelian
Aurelian
Aurelian , was Roman Emperor from 270 to 275. During his reign, he defeated the Alamanni after a devastating war. He also defeated the Goths, Vandals, Juthungi, Sarmatians, and Carpi. Aurelian restored the Empire's eastern provinces after his conquest of the Palmyrene Empire in 273. The following...
and served as foederati
Foederati
Foederatus is a Latin term whose definition and usage drifted in the time between the early Roman Republic and the end of the Western Roman Empire...
in the Roman East
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. In 378, their Queen Mavia
Mavia (queen)
Mavia, was an Arab warrior-queen, who ruled over a confederation of semi-nomadic Arabs, in southern Syria, in the latter half of the fourth century. She led her troops in a rebellion against Roman rule, riding at the head of her army into Phoenicia and Palestine...
led them in a revolt against Emperor Valens
Valens
Valens was the Eastern Roman Emperor from 364 to 378. He was given the eastern half of the empire by his brother Valentinian I after the latter's accession to the throne...
. A truce was struck and was respected for a time, with Mavia even sending a fleet of cavalry in response to Roman requests for assistance in staving off an attack by the Goths
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
. The alliance crumbled under Theodosius I
Theodosius I
Theodosius I , also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman Emperor from 379 to 395. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and the western halves of the Roman Empire. During his reign, the Goths secured control of Illyricum after the Gothic War, establishing their homeland...
, with the Tanukhids again revolting against Roman rule.
Further reading
- Shahîd, Rome and the Arabs: a Prolegomenon to the Study of Byzantium and the Arabs (Washington: Dumbarton Oaks) 1984. The opening volume of Shahîd's multi-volume history of Byzantium and the Arabs.