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He is most notoriously remembered for the Battle of Kerbela where the grandson of Muhammad, Husayn bin Ali was killed. Husayn wasn't the only eminent figure to oppose Yazid's ascension to the caliphate; he was also opposed by Abdullah bin Zubayr who claimed to be the true caliph. When the people of the Hejaz began giving allegiance to Abdullah, Yazid sent armies to subdue the province, and Mecca was besieged. During the siege, the Kaba was damaged, but the siege was ended with Yazid's sudden death in 683.
His ruthlessness in pursuing Husayn and his rather weak rule have made him a despised person in Islamic history.
| Preceded by: Muawiya I | Umayyad Leader | Succeeded by: Muawiya IIMuawiya II or Muawiya ibn Yazid ( 661 684) was an Umayyad caliph for about four months after the death of his father Yazid I. The empire he inherited was in a state of disarray with Abdullah bin Zubayr claiming to be the true caliph and holding the Hejaz |
| Caliph |