Imam Yahya
| Imam Yahya Hamididdin | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Imam of Yemen | |
| Reign | 4 June 1904 – 17 February 1948 |
| Predecessor | Muhammad bin Yahya Hamid ad-Din |
| Successor | Ahmad bin Yahya |
| Born |
18 June 1869 Sana'a, Eyalet-i Yemen, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 17 February 1948 (aged 78) Sana'a, Yemen |
| Issue |
Ahmad bin Yahya Mohammed bin Yahya Hassan bin Yahya Ali bin Yahya Abdullah bin Yahya (executed) Ibrahim bin Yahya Ismail bin Yahya Al-Qasim bin Yahya Yahya bin Yahya Abdel-Rahman bin Yahya Almtehr bin Yahya Mohsen bin Yahya Al-Abbas bin Yahya (executed) Hussein bin Yahya |
| House | Rassids |
| Father | Muhammad bin Yahya Hamid ad-Din |
| Religion | Zaidi Islam |
Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din (or Imam Yahya) (18 June 1869 — 17 February 1948) became Imam of the Zaydis in 1904 after the death of his father, Muhammad Al-Mansur, and Imam of Yemen in 1918. His name and title in full was His majesty Amir al-Mumenin al-Mutawakkil 'Ala Allah Rab ul-Alamin Imam Yahya bin al-Mansur Bi'llah Muhammad Hamidaddin, Imam and Commander of the Faithful (the prince of the believers, he who relies on God, the Lord of the Universe).
Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din was born on Friday 18 June 1869 in Sanaa into the Hamidaddin branch of the al-Qasimi dynasty who ruled most of Yemen proper and South Saudi Arabia today for over 900 years. Upon the death of his father in 1904, Yahya became Imam, effectively ruler over the mountainous areas of the future North Yemen. However, the Ottomans who made claim on the area did not recognize the rule of the Imams of Yemen since their entry into Yemen.
Sir Gilbert Clayton, who visited King Yahya in Sana'a in an earnest attempt to win him over in 1925 and during his short stay in the capital, was impressed by this ruler's administration, his military preparedness, and organization.
Lt Col. Harold Jacob, C.S.I. describing him said; "Imam Yahya is a strong ruler. His sanctity as High Priest of the Zaidi sect and his descent from the Prophet's family adds to the prestige which his benign rule has won. His methods are patriarchal and humane. His one hobby is the Yemen"
Jewish chronicles lavish praise upon him and depict him as the champion of justice and compassion. This is, however, not surprising. Imam Yahia managed to put an end to the state of anarchy, lawlessness and violence which had lacerated the country and inflicted immense suffering upon its inhabitants, including the Jews. During his long reign the Jews enjoyed relatively favorable conditions and were generally in favour of the Imam.
In 1911 Imam Yahya signed the Treaty of Daan with the Ottomans which recognised his rule over the Zaydi-controlled portions of Yemen.
News of the demise of the Ottoman Empire reached Yemen on Thursday 14 November 1918. Imam Yahya went to Sana'a three days later on Sunday 17 November 1918 to meet with tribal leaders from Hashid, Arhab, Nihm, and Khowlan. He arrived at the residence of the judge and scholar Hussein bin Ali Al Amri and received dignitaries, scholars, Turkish princes, judges, and a flood of subjects who proclaimed him the supreme ruler of all of Yemen.
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Wikipedia