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Negus Kaleb: Aksum's War Against a Jewish King in Yemen
Description
In the 6th century, the Aksumite Empire under Negus Kaleb launched an invasion of Yemen, crossing the Red Sea to overthrow the Jewish king Dhu Nuwas, who had massacred Christians in Najran. This episode explores the full story: the context of Aksumite involvement in South Arabia, Dhu Nuwas's rise and his conversion to Judaism, the persecution of Christians at Najran, Kaleb's military campaign with Byzantine support, the aftermath including the Ethiopian occupation of Yemen, and the mysterious eventual withdrawal. We also discuss the archaeological evidence from sites like Marib and Zafar, and the contradictions between Byzantine accounts and local inscriptions. Kaleb's reign marked the peak of Aksumite power, but the campaign drained resources and sowed seeds of decline. No prior episode has covered this transcontinental war or the figure of Dhu Nuwas.