Published in: Journal of Semitic Studies XXXII/2 Autumn /9S7
IMRU’ UL-QAYS I AND IMRU’ UL-QAYS II
Ever since the work done in the last century on the history of the Lakhmids by Th. Noldeke and G. Rothstein,1 scholars have agreed that, of the several lists of Lakhmid kings found in our sources, the only one deserving of any credibility is the one drawn up by Ibn al-Kalbl (d. 204/819 or 206/821) and published by the historian Tabarl. In general, Ibn al-Kalbi rates rather high as a historian as far as the Lakhmids are concerned; at least, scholars are convinced that he copied accurately from his sources, which he found in the churches of al-Hlra.2
Nevertheless, Ibn al-Kalbl’s list poses several problems for the historian, for one of which we shall propose a solution here. The second and fourth Lakhmid kings, who were grandfather and grandson, were both named Imru’ ul-Qays b. ‘Amr, and both are.given the title al-Bad’. Two questions that immediately arise are: what is the meaning of al-bad\ and why should these two kings, alone of all the Lakhmids, bear this unusual title? Read the rest of this entry »
