First Caliph of Islam

**Yazid I**
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Abū Chālid Yazīd ibn Muʿāwiya (also known as Yazid I, * 644; † November 11, 683 near Damascus) was the second Umayyad caliph from 680 until his death in 683.

**Early Life and Education**
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Yazid was born to Muawiya, the founder of the Umayyad dynasty and the first Umayyad caliph. His mother, Meysûn, was a member of the Kelb tribe and a cultured woman who introduced Yazid to poetry and literature during his childhood. After his mother returned to her tribe, Yazid spent some time with her before joining his father in Damascus.

**Accession to Caliphate**
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In 676, Muawiya appointed Yazid as his successor, despite the opposition from several prominent Muslims from the Hejaz. When Muawiya died in 680, Yazid's appointment was rejected by Husain ibn Ali and Abdullah ibn az-Zubair, who fled to Mecca.

**Caliphate and Conflict**
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Yazid's caliphate was marked by the death of Muhammad's grandson Husain ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala in 680. This event led to uprisings in the Hejaz, where Ibn az-Zubair refused to recognize Yazid as the rightful caliph.

**Key Events and Conflicts**
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* The appointment of Yazid by Muawiya in 676 was rejected by several prominent Muslims from the Hejaz.
* Husain ibn Ali and Abdullah ibn az-Zubair fled to Mecca after Muawiya's death, refusing to recognize Yazid as caliph.
* The Battle of Karbala in 680 resulted in the death of Husain ibn Ali and led to uprisings in the Hejaz.

**Legacy**
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Yazid's caliphate marked the beginning of the crisis known as the second Fitna, which would have a lasting impact on Islamic history. His appointment as caliph also established the dynastic principle in the Islamic Empire, where power was passed down through family lines rather than elected leaders.