Ibn al-Zubair's revolt

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Civil Wars of the Early Caliphates
Ridda wars – First Fitna – Ibn al-Zubair's revolt – Kharijite Revolt –Second Fitna – Berber Revolt – Zaidi Revolt– Abassid Revolt

Ibn al-Zubair's revolt was directed against Yazid I following the Battle of Karbala.

Ibn al-Zubair was not active in politics during the reign of Muawiyah I, but upon the ascension of Yazid I, he refused to swear allegiance to the new caliph. After the death of Husayn bin Ali at the Battle of Karbela on the 10th of Muharram, 61 AH (October 10, 680), Zubayr returned to Hejaz region where he declared himself the righteous caliph, and he began building support. Eventually he could consolidate his power by sending a governor to Kufa. Soon, Ibn Zubayr established his power in Iraq, southern Arabia and in the greater part of Syria, and parts of Egypt. Ibn Zubayr benefitted greatly from widespread dissatisfaction among the populace with Umayyad rule. Yazid tried to end Ibn Zubayr's rebellion by invading Hejaz, but his sudden death ended the campaign and throw the Umayyads into disarray with civil war eventually breaking out.

This essentially split the Islamic empire into two spheres with two different caliphs, but it did not last for long. The Second Fitna was soon be settled, and Ibn Zubayr lost Egypt and whatever he had left of Syria to Marwan ibn al-Hakam. This coupled together with the successful Kharijite rebellions in Iraq dwindled Ibn Zubayr's rule down to only the Hejaz region.

Ibn Zubayr finally was decisively defeated by Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan who sent Hajjaj ibn Yusuf to reunite the Islamic empire under the Umayyad rule. Hajjaj defeated and killed Ibn Zubayr on battlefield in 692, reestablishing Umayyad control over the Islamic Empire.

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