Yazid II

Yazid II, born Yazid ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan around the year six hundred ninety, ascended to the position of the ninth Umayyad caliph in the year seven hundred twenty. His reign, though brief, lasted until his death in seven hundred twenty-four. Despite his lack of military and administrative experience, Yazid derived significant prestige from his noble lineage, being a descendant of both the Sufyanids and the Marwanids, the two ruling branches of the Umayyad dynasty.

Designated as second-in-line to the caliphate by his half-brother, Caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik, Yazid's rule marked a departure from the reformist policies of his predecessor, Umar. He reinstated the jizya, a poll tax imposed on non-Arab Muslim converts, and reignited military campaigns against the Khazars and Byzantines. These actions aligned with the desires of the Arab militarist faction within the Umayyad dynasty, yet they failed to alleviate the fiscal crisis that plagued the caliphate.

Yazid's reign was also characterized by his controversial edict that led to the destruction of Christian icons in churches throughout the caliphate, a move that would later influence the Byzantine emperor Leo III. His decision to reintroduce Syrian troops to Iraq, a region long resentful of Umayyad rule, sparked significant unrest, culminating in a rebellion led by Yazid ibn al-Muhallab. The suppression of this revolt marked a turning point, quelling serious anti-Umayyad sentiments in the province.

While Yazid attempted to balance the interests of rival factions within his realm, his actions ultimately escalated tensions, particularly in Iraq. The brutal suppression of the Muhallabids became a rallying cry for those seeking revenge during the Abbasid Revolution, which would eventually lead to the downfall of the Umayyad dynasty in the year seven hundred fifty.