Mu'awiya II

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Mu'awiya ibn Yazid ibn Mu'awiya (Arabic: مُعَاوِيَة بْنِ يَزِيد بْنِ مُعَاوِيَة, romanized: Muʿāwiya ibn Yazīd ibn Muʿāwiya; c. 664–684), commonly known as Mu'awiya II, was the third Umayyad caliph. The last ruler of the Sufyanid line, he succeeded his father Yazid I in 683 (64 AH) but died after a reign of only a few months. Mu'awiya II's accession occurred during the Second Fitna, a period of civil war where his authority was largely limited to Damascus and southern Syria. His rival, Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, was recognized as caliph in the Hejaz and several other provinces. Mu'awiya II's brief tenure was marked by chronic ill health and minimal administrative activity, though he reportedly continued his father's policy of reducing taxes. Historical accounts of his reign are often viewed as sectarian or unreliable. He is most famous for a provocative sermon recorded by Al-Ya'qubi, in which he allegedly denounced his predecessors and abdicated the throne. Because he died without heirs,...

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