Yazid I

Yazid I (يزيد بن معاوية بن أبي سفيان, Yazīd ibn Muʿāwiya ibn Abī Sufyān; born c. 647 – died November 683) was the second caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate, ruling from 680 until his death in 683. He was the son of Muawiyah I, the founder of the Umayyad dynasty.

Yazid's succession to the caliphate was controversial, as it broke the established Islamic tradition of selecting a leader through consultation (shura) or consensus (ijma). Muawiyah I had designated Yazid as his successor, thereby establishing a dynastic principle which was opposed by many prominent Muslims, including Husayn ibn Ali (the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad), Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, Abd Allah ibn Umar, and Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr.

Following Muawiyah's death, Yazid demanded allegiance from these individuals. Husayn ibn Ali refused and, along with his family and supporters, was killed at the Battle of Karbala in 680. This event is considered a pivotal moment in Islamic history and is mourned by Shia Muslims to this day.

The Battle of Karbala triggered widespread unrest and rebellions against Yazid's rule. Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr also refused to pledge allegiance and proclaimed himself caliph in Mecca, leading to a rival caliphate. Medina also revolted against Yazid, resulting in the Battle of al-Harra in 683, where Yazid's forces brutally suppressed the rebellion. Following this, Yazid's army marched on Mecca to subdue Ibn al-Zubayr, but Yazid died unexpectedly during the siege.

Yazid's reign was short and marked by significant internal conflict and controversy. He is viewed very differently by different groups within Islam. Sunni Muslims generally regard him as a ruler, albeit sometimes a controversial one. Shia Muslims view him as a tyrant responsible for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali and his companions. Historians often characterize his rule as a period of increasing centralization and secularization within the Umayyad Caliphate, accompanied by growing opposition.