al-Walid ibn Yazid ibn Abd al-Malik
The eleventh Umayyad caliph, who succeeded Hisham in 126 by his designation; Ahmad's Musnad carries the hadith that a man called al-Walid would be harder on this umma than Pharaoh on his people, and Ibn Fadlallah in al-Masalik calls him the obstinate tyrant who shot the Mushaf with arrows. His cousin Yazid ibn al-Walid rose against him, killed him and took power, his caliphate lasting six months less a fraction at age thirty-five, or forty-six.
Reign · Umayyad Caliphate · no. 11 in the chain · 743–744 CE
Ruled the caliphate
Events of the reign
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The killing of al-Walid ibn Yazid
Yazid ibn al-Walid 'al-Naqis' rose for the caliphate, killed his cousin al-Walid ibn Yazid and took power, then mounted the pulpit: 'I did not rise in arrogance or pride or greed for the world or desire for kingship, but in anger for God and His religion, calling to His Book and His Prophet's sunna, when the landmarks of guidance were effaced, the light of the godfearing extinguished, and the tyrant who profanes sanctity appeared'.
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The Rising of Musafir al-Qassab in Armenia
In al-Baladhuri: Thabit ibn Nu'aym al-Judhami rose against Marwan ibn Muhammad, and Musafir al-Qassab — one whom al-Dahhak al-Khariji had empowered at al-Bab — came agreeing with his view; al-Dahhak gave him Armenia and Adharbayjan, and he came to Ardabil in disguise, whence a body of Sharat (Kharijites) went out with him — among them Bajirwan — finding at... like-minded men who joined them, then Wartan whose folk accompanied them in numbers sharing their view, crossing to al-Baylaqan where a great crowd of like view attached itself, till they camped at Yunan; Marwan ibn Muhammad gave Armenia to Ishaq ibn Muslim, who fought Musafir ceaselessly, Musafir holding the fortress of al-Kilab in Sisajan; then when the blessed Dawla came and Abu Ja'far al-Mansur governed Jazira and Armenia under al-Saffah, he sent against Musafir and his fellows a commander of Khurasan's people who fought them till he overcame them and killed Musafir — the people of al-Baylaqan had fortified themselves in Qal'at al-Kilab under their chief Wadad ibn Asfar al-Baylaqani, and were brought down under aman.
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The revolt of 'Abd Allah ibn Mu'awiya ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Ja'far in Kufa
In 127 'Abd Allah ibn Mu'awiya ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Ja'far ibn Abi Talib called people to himself in Kufa and fought its governor there, 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz. He had come to Kufa as a visitor seeking his stipend, with no intention of rising, and married the daughter of Hatim ibn al-Sharqi. When factional partisanship broke out, the people of Kufa told him to call for himself, since the Banu Hashim had a better right to the affair than the Banu Marwan. The cause was that Ibn 'Umar gave great gifts to Mudar and Rabi'a but did not give Ja'far ibn Nafi' and 'Uthman ibn al-Khayyar of the Yemenis the like. They grew angry, he had them pushed out, and they went out shouting 'O Rabi'a!', and Rabi'a rose to them. When the partisans saw Ibn 'Umar's weakness, they pressed upon him and called for Ibn Mu'awiya, and they rose up amid the rabble until they reached the mosque and gathered there. The people gave their allegiance to 'Abd Allah ibn Mu'awiya, and they drove him out of the house of al-Walid ibn Sa'id until they brought him into the palace. He remained in Kufa for several days while people gave him their allegiance; pledges came to him from al-Mada'in and Qumm al-Nil. He went out to al-Mada'in, where they gave him their allegiance, and then he prevailed over Hulwan, the mountains, al-Mahin, Hamadhan, Qumis, Isfahan and Rayy.