Client Kings and Imperial Rivalries

This chapter explores the political and military relationships between the Byzantine Empire, the Sasanian Empire, and their Arab client kings, particularly the Ghassanids and Lakhmids. It examines the shifting power dynamics, the influence of religious factors, and the role of these kings leading up to the rise of Islam. The narrative provides insights into how these client states maintained balance between empires and the subsequent ramifications of their decline on regional stability.