Mikhlaf

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Mikhlaf (Arabic: مخلاف, plural makhaleef) was an ancient Yemen region used as an administrative division. Ya'qubi says there were eighty-four makhaleef in Yemen. The leader of a mikhlaf was called a Qil (plural Aqial).

Makhaleef were autonomous kingdoms under the united kingdom of Saba’ and Dhu Raydan. In the 2nd century AD, Shamir Yuhari'sh II expanded Saba and Dhu Raydan to Hadramawt and Yamnat, and the kings adopted the long title “King of Saba, Dhu Raydan, Hadramawt and Yamnat.” These rulers are known as Tubba kings who founded the second Himyarite Kingdom.

In the 5th century AD, the Tubba king AbuKarib As'ad used the title “King of Saba’, Dhu Raydan, Hadramawt, Yamnat and his Arabs, on Tawdum (the high plateau) and Tihamah.” The mikhlaf system spread to these areas and helped control them.

The lists of makhaleef appear in al-Ya'qubi’s Kitab al-Buldan and Ta'rikh ibn Wadih, with minor differences. Despite his claim of 84 mikhlaf, neither list contains 84 names.