Mikhlaf (Arabic: مخلاف, plural Makhaleef; مخاليف) was an administrative division in ancient Yemen and is a geographical term used in Yemen. According to Ya'qubi there were eighty-four makhaleef in Yemen.[1][2] The leader of a mikhlaf is called a Qil (Arabic: قيل, plural Aqial; أقيال).[3]
Makhaleef were autonomous kingdoms under the united kingdom of Saba' and Dhu Raydan.[1] In the second century AD, Shamir Yuhari'sh II extended the Kingdom of Saba and Dhu Raydan to the kingdom of Hadramout and kingdom of Yamnat and so the kings of that time adopted the long title "King of Saba, Dhu raydan, Hadrmawt and Yamant". They are also known as Tubba kings who established the second Himyarite Kingdom.[4] In the fifth century AD the Tubba king AbuKarib As'ad had the title "King of Saba', Dhu raydan, Hadramawt, Yamnat and his Arabs, on Tawdum (the high plateau) and Tihamah".[5] The system of Makhaleef expanded to these areas and was essential to control these areas.[1]
The following list appears both in al-Ya'qubi's Kitab al-Buldan and, with minor differences, in his Ta'rikh ibn Wadih. However, despite al-Ya'qubi's claim that 84 mikhlaf existed in Yemen, neither list contains 84 names.[2]
