Quick Facts
- Born:
- 623
- Died:
- 685 (aged 62)
- House / Dynasty:
- Umayyad dynasty
- Notable Family Members:
- son ʿAbd al-Malik
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Marwān I ibn al-Hakam
Umayyad caliph
Marwān I ibn al-Hakam (born 623—died 685) was the first of the Marwānid caliphs of the Umayyad dynasty (reigned 684–685).
A governor of Medina and the Hejaz under the caliph Muʿāwiya I, where he showed unusual vigour, Marwān I was an old man in poor health when he ascended the throne himself in 684. He died of illness less than a year later. His short reign was a period of continuous battle between various factions for the caliphate. Marwān I was able to arrange the succession of his son ʿAbd al-Malik by eliminating all other contenders for the caliphate. He strengthened the foundations of the Umayyad house and concentrated more power in the hands of the caliph.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.