Yazīd’s death, for it was then that he assumed the title of Commander of the Believers, and the general body of the inhabitants of the provinces pledged allegiance to him, except the people of Syria. For this reason, his rule is reckoned only from after Yazīd’s death. During Yazīd’s lifetime, however, he initially refused to pledge allegiance to him, but later offered to do so. Yazīd would accept nothing less than that he come before him as a captive, so civil strife broke out between them. Yazīd sent forces to besiege him in Mecca, and Yazīd died while he was still under siege. When Yazīd died, a group of people from Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere pledged allegiance to Ibn al-Zubayr.

After Yazīd, his son Muāwiya ibn Yazīd (1) succeeded him. His reign was brief (2), lasting only forty days or thereabouts. He was righteous and ascetic, and he appointed no successor. After him, Marwān [ibn al-Hakam] (3) assumed rule over Syria, but his reign was also brief (4). He was succeeded by his son Abd al-Malik, who marched against Musab ibn al-Zubayr, his brother’s governor over Iraq, and killed him, thereby taking control of Iraq. He then sent al-Hajjāj against Ibn al-Zubayr; [he besieged him] (5) and fought him until Ibn al-Zubayr was killed. Authority was thus firmly established for Abd al-Malik and, after him, for his sons.

During his reign, Bukhārā and other territories in Transoxiana were conquered by Qutayba ibn Muslim, the governor appointed by al-Hajjāj ibn Yūsuf, who was Abd al-Malik ibn Marwān’s governor over Iraq—despite the injustice for which al-Hajjāj was responsible. The Muslims also fought the Khāqān, king of the Turks, defeated him, and captured his children. They also conquered Sindh and al-Andalus, campaigned against Constantinople, and besieged it for a time. They conducted both winter (6) and summer campaigns.