VIᵉ siècle
From the Aksumite Red Sea coast to South Arabia
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Kaleb’s Maritime Expedition to South Arabia was an Aksumite naval campaign launched in 525 after the massacre of Christians at Najran. The expedition began from the Aksumite sphere near Adulis, crossed the Red Sea, found the principal enemy harbor blocked and defended, and landed at another site before advancing against Himyarite forces. It culminated in the capture of Zafar and Najran and the establishment of a garrison.
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Le récit
The campaign followed the massacre of Christians in Zafar and Najran. After receiving reports from survivors and emissaries, Kaleb prepared an army and fleet for intervention in South Arabia. Traditions differ sharply over the resources involved: one account gives 120,000 men and sixty warships, while another limits the army to 30,000 and attributes the fleet to ships anchored at Adulis.
The expedition set out toward the end of May 525. Kaleb first approached an enemy port that was blocked by chains and protected by soldiers. Rather than wait for a direct assault, he searched for a more favorable landing place. A captive related to Dhu-Nuwas’s family revealed such a location, allowing Kaleb and approximately twenty boats to disembark and open the way for the remainder of the force.
After the landing, the Aksumite forces defeated the Himyarite army and captured Dhu-Nuwas, who was killed by Kaleb. The troops then advanced to Zafar and Najran, where they carried out further violence against opponents of their religion. A garrison of 10,000 men remained in South Arabia, and a monument was erected at Marib to commemorate the victory.
The route and sequence are preserved through conflicting traditions. Some accounts describe only one expedition, while others report a second campaign before final victory. The broad trajectory—from the Aksumite coast through the Red Sea to South Arabian centers—is clear, but the precise embarkation point and landing site remain uncertain.
VIᵉ siècle
From the Aksumite Red Sea coast to South Arabia
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Kaleb’s Maritime Expedition to South Arabia was an Aksumite naval campaign launched in 525 after the massacre of Christians at Najran. The expedition began from the Aksumite sphere near Adulis, crossed the Red Sea, found the principal enemy harbor blocked and defended, and landed at another site before advancing against Himyarite forces. It culminated in the capture of Zafar and Najran and the establishment of a garrison.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The campaign followed the massacre of Christians in Zafar and Najran. After receiving reports from survivors and emissaries, Kaleb prepared an army and fleet for intervention in South Arabia. Traditions differ sharply over the resources involved: one account gives 120,000 men and sixty warships, while another limits the army to 30,000 and attributes the fleet to ships anchored at Adulis.
The expedition set out toward the end of May 525. Kaleb first approached an enemy port that was blocked by chains and protected by soldiers. Rather than wait for a direct assault, he searched for a more favorable landing place. A captive related to Dhu-Nuwas’s family revealed such a location, allowing Kaleb and approximately twenty boats to disembark and open the way for the remainder of the force.
After the landing, the Aksumite forces defeated the Himyarite army and captured Dhu-Nuwas, who was killed by Kaleb. The troops then advanced to Zafar and Najran, where they carried out further violence against opponents of their religion. A garrison of 10,000 men remained in South Arabia, and a monument was erected at Marib to commemorate the victory.
The route and sequence are preserved through conflicting traditions. Some accounts describe only one expedition, while others report a second campaign before final victory. The broad trajectory—from the Aksumite coast through the Red Sea to South Arabian centers—is clear, but the precise embarkation point and landing site remain uncertain.
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