Marwan I

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Marwan ibn al-Hakam (623 - 685) (Arabic: مروان بن الحكم) was the fourth Ummayad Caliph, who took over the dynasty after Muawiya II gave up the title in 684. Marwan's ascension pointed to a shift in the lineage of the Umayyad dynasty from descendants of Abu Sufyan to those of Hakam, both of whom were grandsons of Umayya (for whom the Umayyad dynasty is named). Hakam was a first cousin of Uthman ibn Affan.

The Prophet Muhammad sent both him and his father, Hakam ibn al-Aas to exile, saying they should never return. During the reign of Uthman, he sent Marwan and possibly his father back. Marwan took advantage of his relationship to the caliph and was appointed governor of Medina. A number of early historians such as Ibn Taymiyya and the Sunnis in general question the authenticity of this story, which doesn't come from any Sahih hadiths or from a reputable writer from soon after Muhammad's death.

During the "Battle of the Camel" Marwan ibn al-Hakam is said to have shot his general Talha with an arrow to the thigh, resulting in his death. Marwan killed Talha in revenge for Talha's alleged betrayal of the third Caliph Uthman:

"I saw this man (Talha) during the days when Uthman was besieged in his house. He was inciting and urging the crowd to enter the house, and to kill him." 2 3

He was removed from this position by Ali, only to be reappointed by Muawiya I. Marwan was eventually removed from the city when Abdullah ibn Zubayr rebelled against Yazid I. From here, Marwan went to Damascus, where he was made the caliph after Muawiya II abdicated.

Marwan's short reign was marked by a civil war among the Umayyads as well as a war against Abdullah bin Zubayr who continued to rule over the Hejaz, Iraq, Egypt and parts of Syria. Marwan was able to win the Umayyad civil war, the result of which was a new Marwanid line of Umayyad caliphs. He was also able to recapture Egypt and Syria from Abdullah, but was not able to completely defeat him.

Note that Shi'a do not consider any of the Umayyad caliphs or any of the three predecessors to Ali to be legitimate. See Succession to Muhammad for more details.