The imam's own ground: Sa'da, his headquarters since 1189 with its Khawlan tribesmen; the Jawf, where he first made his summons; and Thula, the fortified town where he took refuge after losing Sana'a in 1198.
He rules through the tribes, the scholars and the sanctuary settlements rather than through governors; his amirs that winter are not named in the sources reached. He is also a prolific author (al-Shafi in four volumes among 81 works).
Who he is
- Name
- Abd Allah ibn Hamza ibn Sulayman
- Title
- Imam al-Mansur bi-llah
- Since
- Imam from Dhu al-Qa'da 593 (September-October 1197); summons of 583 (1187)
- Born
- 21 Rabi II 561 (24 February 1166), Ayshan
- Family
- Brother: Yahya ibn Hamza (later his commander; in 610/1213 he crushed a revolt). Son: Izz al-Din Muhammad (al-Nasir), imam after him in 1217 (birth not pinned). Wives: not recorded in the sources reached. His nephews later settled near Asir.
- Confidence
- high
English Wikipedia and the Diyanet encyclopedia.
What it holds
- Sa'da and its basin
- Thula
- The Jawf (the tribes of Hamdan's Bakil)
- The allegiance of Hamdan, Khawlan and the Hamdanid sultan
How it was acquired
By recognition as imam; Thula by retreat in 1198.
Allies and rivals
See Zaydi imamate.
How things stand that morning
At war with al-Mu'izz; based at Sa'da and Thula.
Wealth
Religious dues and tribal gifts.
Military
Tribal levies; walls of Sa'da and Thula.
Threats
- Ayyubid offensive (597/1200-1201)
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 600 (1203-4)Repairs and occupies Zafar in Dhibin, his later seat.Depends on: Peace in the Hamdan country. Stopped by: Ayyubid pressure.
Places of note
- Sa'da: Headquarters since 1189.
- Thula: Refuge after 1198.
Where the sources disagree
- Which of Sa'da, Thula or the Jawf he was in on 1 January 1200 is not pinned.
Evidence: Holdings inferred from the dated events of 1189-1198.
On the map: The imam's direct holdings are a few towns in tribal country that recognised him.
Primary sources for Zaydi imamate
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- History of Yemen, Umara al-Yamani (Umara ibn Ali al-Hakami) (1168 to 1174, at Cairo). The history of Yemen's dynasties to the eve of the Ayyubid conquest: the Ziyadids and Najahids of Zabid, the Sulayhids and their queen Arwa, the Zuray'ids of Aden, the Hamdanid sultans of San'a and the Mahdids of Zabid, with Umara's own career as a Yemeni envoy to Fatimid Cairo. Read online
- History of the Observant Traveller (A Traveller in Thirteenth-Century Arabia), Ibn al-Mujawir (Jamal al-Din Yusuf ibn Ya'qub) (about 1226 to 1232). A merchant-traveller's description of western and southern Arabia a generation after 1200: Mecca and the Hijaz ports, the Red Sea crossing, Zabid and the Tihama, Aden with its customs and tariffs, the Hadramawt coast, Dhofar and Oman, Socotra, and the opposite African shore at Zeila and the Dahlak islands. Read online
Sources and studies
- 'Al-Mansur Abdallah', English Wikipedia
- 'Mansur-billah, Abdullah b. Hamza', TDV Islam Ansiklopedisi (Turkish Diyanet encyclopedia), via kureansiklopedi.com
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.