Al-Walid II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Al-Walid IIالْوَلِيد بْنِ يَزِيد |
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Fresco of Walid ibn Yazid from Qusayr Amra
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| 11th Caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate | |||||
| Reign | 6 February 743 – 17 April 744 | ||||
| Predecessor | Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik | ||||
| Successor | Yazid ibn al-Walid | ||||
| Born | c. 709 al-Sham, Umayyad Caliphate |
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| Died | 17 April 744 (aged 35) al-Sham, Umayyad Caliphate (present-day Jordan) Cause of death: Assassination |
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| Spouse | Atika bint Uthman ibn Muhammad | ||||
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| Dynasty | Umayyad | ||||
| Father | Yazid II | ||||
| Mother | Umm al-Hajjaj bint Muhammad | ||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||
Al-Walid II was the eleventh Caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate. He ruled for a short time, from 743 to 744 CE. His full name was Al-Walid ibn Yazid ibn Abd al-Malik. He became caliph after his uncle, Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, passed away.
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Early Life and Family
Al-Walid was born around 709 CE. His father was Yazid II, who was also a caliph. His mother was Umm al-Hajjaj bint Muhammad al-Thaqafi. She was the daughter of an important Umayyad official.
His father, Yazid II, ruled the Caliphate from 720 to 724 CE. Yazid II wanted Al-Walid to be the next ruler. However, he was convinced to name his half-brother Hisham as caliph first. Al-Walid would then follow Hisham.
As Al-Walid grew up, his uncle Hisham became unhappy with him. Hisham thought Al-Walid loved poetry too much. He also felt Al-Walid was not serious enough about religious matters. Hisham even considered making his own son the next caliph instead of Al-Walid.
Becoming Caliph
When Caliph Hisham died in February 743 CE, Al-Walid II officially became the new caliph. He was the eleventh ruler of the Umayyad Caliphate.
One of his first actions was to have Hisham's sons arrested. However, he made sure that his cousin Maslama was not bothered. This was because Maslama had been a good friend and had defended Al-Walid in the past.
His Time as Caliph
Al-Walid II was known for being generous and kind. He especially cared for people with disabilities, like the crippled and the blind. He made sure they received more support from the government.
He also named his two sons, al-Hakam and Uthman, as his future successors. This meant they would rule after him, in that order. Al-Walid was also a poet and enjoyed writing verses. He even organized horse races.
However, Al-Walid faced some challenges during his rule. He put his cousin, Sulayman ibn Hisham, in prison. This made many people upset. Another important figure, Khalid al-Qasri, was also imprisoned. Khalid later died while in custody, which angered many of Al-Walid's own relatives.
Some people, including his cousin Yazid ibn al-Walid, spoke out against Al-Walid's rule. They felt he was unfair to some groups of people. As a result, a group began to plan against him.
Death
The opposition against Al-Walid grew stronger. His cousin Yazid secretly entered the city of Damascus. Yazid then removed Al-Walid from power in a sudden takeover.
Al-Walid was surrounded in a castle outside the city. He fought bravely, but on April 17, 744 CE, he was defeated and killed. This happened at Al-Aghdaf, in what is now Jordan. After his death, his cousin Yazid III became the new caliph.
Family
Al-Walid II was married to Atika bint Uthman ibn Muhammad. He also had two sons, al-Hakam and Uthman. He had named them as his successors. However, after Yazid III became caliph, both Uthman and Hakam were imprisoned.
See Also
Images for kids
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Fresco of Walid ibn Yazid from Qusayr Amra
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Gold dinar of al-Walid II
