Tag Archives: Abd al-Malik

Completing the Conquest of North Africa, 698-708

After Abd al-Malik was secure in Damascus, he had fighting men to spare. Foreign expeditions rewarded soldiers with booty, so he offered his men the opportunity to launch another invasion of North Africa. The general this time would be Hassan … Continue reading

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Siege of Mecca, 692

In 689, Caliph Abd al-Malik was ready to take on the Meccan Caliph Abdallah ibn Zubayr. He started with Iraq, which was shaky but technically loyal to Mecca, through Abdallah’s brother Musab. As you know, everything happened slowly then; it … Continue reading

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Caliph Abd al-Malik and Dome of the Rock, 688-90

Abd al-Malik had focused his main attention on consolidating power in Syria, leaving his rival Caliph Abdallah ibn Zubayr to battle against Kharijites in Iraq and Arabia. This allowed almost a decade in which Mecca was ruled by a power … Continue reading

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The Divided Caliphate and lots of rebels, 683-692

Before the Syrian army could push farther into rebellious Arabia, it was called back to Damascus. Yazid had suddenly died. His son was a young man who died soon after him. (Shi’ite history records that he criticized his family for … Continue reading

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The Sack of Medina, 683

Don’t imagine that Medina and Mecca took the news of Husayn’s head on a lance quietly. They may have imagined that Yazid’s men would not dare to hurt the Prophet’s grandson, or they may have been prepared for news of … Continue reading

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