Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan مروان بن محمد بن مروان |
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Caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate | |||||
Reign | 4 December 744 – 25 January 750 | ||||
Predecessor | Ibrahim ibn al-Walid | ||||
Successor | As-Saffah as Abbasid Caliph | ||||
Born | 691 | ||||
Died | 6 August 750 (aged 59), probably killed and buried in Faiyum, Egypt | ||||
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Dynasty | Umayyad |
Full name | |
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Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan |
Marwan ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan or Marwan II (691 – 6 August 750) (Arabic: مروان بن محمد بن مروان بن الحكم / ALA-LC: Marwān bin Muḥammad bin Marwān bin al-Ḥakam) was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 744 until 750 when he was killed. Much of his reign was dominated by the Third Fitna, and he was the last Umayyad ruler to rule the united Caliphate before the Abbasid Revolution toppled the Umayyad dynasty.
Marwan ibn Muhammad was a member Marwanid household of the Umayyad Caliphate
In A.H. 114 (732–733) Caliph Hisham appointed Marwan governor of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In A.H. 117 (735–736) Marwan invaded Georgia, devastated it and then took three fortresses of the Alans and made peace with Tumanshah. In A.H. 121 he launched further raids and obtained tribute. In A.H. 126 on hearing news of the plotting to overthrow al-Walid II Marwan wrote to his relatives from Armenia strongly discouraging such an act. He urged them to harmoniously preserve the stability and well being of the Umayyad house.
When Yazid III persisted in overthrowing al-Walid II, Marwan at first opposed him, then rendered allegiance to him. On Yazid's early death, Marwan renewed his ambitions, ignored Yazid's named successor Ibrahim and became caliph. Ibrahim initially hid, then requested Marwan give him assurances of personal safety. This Marwan granted and Ibrahim even accompanied the new caliph to Hisham's residence of Rusafah.
Marwan named his two sons Ubaydallah and Abdallah heirs. He appointed governors and proceeded to assert his authority by force. However, anti-Umayyad feeling was very prevalent, especially in Iran and Iraq. The Abbasids had gained much support. As such, Marwan's reign as caliph was almost entirely devoted to trying to keep the Umayyad empire together.