In the presence of a numerous congregation of Zaidi scholars , he adopted the title al - Mahdi Ali and took possession of Sa'dah and Dhamar .
Under these circumstances , Ali rose to power from his base in the mountain fortress Thula in 1349 .
In the presence of a numerous congregation of Zaidi scholars , Ali adopted the title al - Mahdi Ali and took possession of Sa'dah and Dhamar .
Under these circumstances , Ali rose to power from his base in the mountain fortress Thula in 1349 .