was populated by the Al-Habieli family, descendants of the Prophet, who arrived in the valley in the late 1600s. They had been sent by the Imam of Yemen to protect the trade routes. The Al-Habieli family are direct descendants of the first, al Hadi Yahya bin Hussein, and seventh, Qassim al Mansur bin Abdullah, Imams of Sana'a. The north of the valley was dominated by the Balharith Tribe who were also continuously fighting one another as to who was their paramount sheik and like the Masabin also split into 2 main branches. In 1931, the population was estimated at 11,000. Rulers The ruling Al-Habieli family, recognized by the Hashimite Grand Sharifs of Mecca as related, established themselves as religious leaders in Bayhan in 1680 and became independent. The Hashemite Emirate of Bayhan was included in the Western Aden Protectorate before joining the Federation of Arab Emirates of the South on 11/2/1959 and the Federation of South Arabia on 4/4/1962. The Emirate was abolished by revolutionary Yemen in 7/1967 (the People's Republic of South Yemen on 30/11/1967). Capital was Naqub. Al Amir ( Prince ) Khalid Saleh Hussein Al-Habieli is current dynastic head of the family. Emirs The former rulers were: Muqbil, 1st Amir of Bayhan 1680- Emir Hasan. Emir Ghaib c.1750 - 1800 Amir Ghalib. Emir Hussein c.1800 - 1820 Amir Hussein. .... - .... Emir al Habieli. Emir Thaifallah. Emir Mubarak. .... - 1903 Emir Muhsin Sharif Emir Ahmad Muhsin Al Habieli, Amir of Bayhan 1903-abdicated 1935, independent c 1900. Father of: HE Sharif Sultan Hussein Ahmad Al Habieli, Regent of the Hashemite Emirate of Bayhan 1935-1967, formerly Minister of Interior of the Federation of South Arabia. HE Sharif Hussein was married to Halima, daughter of the Sheikh of the Musabein tribe. Their son, HH Sharif Emir Saleh Bin Hussein Al Habieli (1935-Feb 2010), Emir of Bayhan, deprived of ruling powers on 28/8/1967 by revolutionary Yemen (the People's Republic of South Yemen on 30/11/1967). Prince Khalid Bin Saleh Bin Hussein Al-Habieli. Current Prince ( Feb 2010–Present ). See also Aden Protectorate List of Sunni Muslim dynasties References External links Map of Arabia (1905-1923) including the states of Aden Protectorate Historical Flags of Yemen Former emirates States in the Aden Protectorate Federation of South Arabia 1680 establishments in Asia 17th century in Yemen 18th century in Yemen 19th century in Yemen 20th century in Yemen es:Beihan fr:Beihan