'Amr ibn Jafnah (Arabic: عمرو بن جفنة) was a poet and the second of the Ghassanid rulers, as well as the first Christian king in the ruling dynasty. He succeeded his father, Jafnah. 'Amr was known for his conflicts with the Salihids and the Roman Empire.
| Amr ibn Jafnah | |
|---|---|
| King of the Ghassanids | |
| Reign | 265–270 CE |
| Predecessor | Jafnah ibn Amr |
| Successor | Tha'laba ibn Amr |
| Died | c. 270 CE |
| House | Ghassanids |
| Religion | Converted to Christianity from South Arabian polytheism |
Biography
editFamily
editBeing the son of Jafnah, 'Amr would have been descended from the Arabian king Muzayqiya as well as the Azd tribal group.[1] 'Amr had a son named Tha'laba, who succeeded him.[1]
Rule
edit'Amr took the throne after his father had died. He became the first of the Ghassanid rulers to adopt the tradition of wearing a crown.[2] His rule is dated to 265–270 CE.[3][4] According to the historian Ibn Hisham, the Ghassanids had several military campaigns and battles led by 'Amr which were fought against the Roman Empire and the Salihids, the latter having acted treacherously against the Ghassanids.[5] Towards the end of the reign of 'Amr, the Romans made a reconciliation with the Ghassanids and signed an agreement which ensured peace amongst them.[5][2]
Personal interests
editReligions
edit'Amr ibn Jafnah was a convert to Christianity, and the first of the Ghassanid rulers to become a Christian. Under his rule, Christian monasteries were built in Syria.[1] The Ghassanids, now Christians, would become allies of the Byzantines in later years.[6]
Poetry
editAside from his career as a ruler, 'Amr also had an interest in poetry; having composed a poem after his battle with the Salihids.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Ibn Sa'id al-Andalusi. Nashwat al-Tarab fi Tarikh Jahiliat al-Arab. Amman, Jordan: Maktabat Al-Aqsa.
- ^ a b al-Zirikli (2002). al-A'lam (in Arabic) (5th ed.). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar El Ilm Lilmalayin.
- ^ Fisher, Greg (2018). "Jafnids". In Oliver Nicholson (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Vol. 2: J–Z. Oxford University Press. p. 804. ISBN 978-0-19-866277-8.
- ^ "Laws of Succession". Sovereign Imperial & Royal House of Ghassan. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ a b c Kitab al-Tijan by Ibn Hisham
- ^ Shahîd, Irfan (1995). Byzantium and the Arabs in the Sixth Century. Vol. 1. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks. ISBN 978-0-88402-214-5.