The Third Fitna: How a series of civil wars dismantled the Umayyad Caliphate
Between 744 and 747, the Umayyad Caliphate fractured under the weight of internal tribal rivalries and religious dissent. What began as a revolt against a single ruler spiraled into a systemic collapse, ultimately paving the way for the Abbasid Revolution and a permanent shift in the Islamic political world.
The Third Fitna erupted in 744 following the overthrow of al-Walid II, a caliph whose perceived focus on worldly pleasures and persecution of the Qadariyya sect alienated his own family and tribal factions. His death, marked by the gruesome display of his severed head in Damascus, triggered a cascade of uprisings. The conflict was deeply rooted in the Qays–Yaman rivalry, a persistent tribal divide that permeated the military and administration, often overriding central authority.
During this period, the Caliphate saw a rapid succession of leaders, including the pious Yazid III, who attempted to reform autocratic rule, and Marwan II, the final Umayyad caliph. Marwan II’s efforts to stabilize the state were repeatedly undermined by regional revolts, from the Kalbi uprisings in Syria to Kharijite movements in Iraq and Alid rebellions in Persia. His decision to relocate the capital from Damascus to Harran further alienated Syrian supporters, fueling a cycle of siege and suppression that left the empire’s infrastructure—and its walls—shattered.
The chaos provided the perfect opening for the Abbasid Revolution, which began in Khurasan in 747 under the leadership of Abu Muslim. By exploiting the exhausted tribal factions and the lingering resentment against Umayyad dominance, the Abbasids systematically dismantled the regime. The decisive Battle of the Greater Zab in January 750 sealed the fate of the Umayyads, leading to the execution of Marwan II and the establishment of the Abbasid Caliphate, which shifted the center of power from Damascus to Kufa.
Source: Third Fitna
