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Yazid IYazid bin Muawiyah (c. 645 - 683) was the second Umayyad Caliph, and succeeded his father Muawiyah. The most notable incident of his reign occurred at the Battle of Kerbela where the grandson of Muhammad, Husayn bin Ali was killed by Yazid's army. 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. As a young man Yazid commanded the Arab army that his father, Muawiyah, sent to lay siege to Constantinople. Soon afterward he became caliph, but many of those whom his fatherhad kept in check rebelled against him. Although presented in many sources as a dissolute ruler, Yazid energetically tried to continue his father's policies and retained many of the men who served him. He strengthened the administrative structure of the empire and improved the military defenses of Syria, th Umayyad power base. The financial system was reformed. He lightened the taxation of some Christian groups and abolished the tax concessions granted to the Samaritans as a reward for aid they had rendered in the days of the early Arab conquests. He also paid significant attention to agriculture and improved the irrigation system of the Damascus oasis. He was succeeded by his son, Muawiya II. width="30%" align="center" rowspan="2" | Preceded by:
Muawiya I | width="40%" align="center" | Umayyad Leader | width="30%" align="center" rowspan="2" | Succeeded by:
Muawiya II | | width="40%" align="center" | Caliph |
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