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What happened at the Battle of Karbala in 680?

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Map showing the extent of the Abbasid caliphate in the 9th century, with regions under direct Abbasid rule shaded in green, and surrounding areas under Abbasid suzerainty or controlled by other dynasties-Aghlabids of Tunisia, Idrisids of Morocco, Tahirids in the east, and the Umayyad emirate of Spain-indicated in different colors. Major cities such as Baghdad, Cairo, Mecca, and Cordoba are labeled, along with key regional boundaries.
Caliphate

The Battle of Karbala, which took place on October 10, 680 (Muharram 10, 61 AH), was a pivotal conflict in Islamic history. It occurred after al-Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, refused to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad caliph Yazid I.

Invited by supporters in Kufah to lead a revolt, Husayn and his small party of approximately 72 fighters were intercepted at Karbala by a significantly larger Umayyad force of about 4,000 men. Despite the disparity in numbers, Husayn’s group fought and was ultimately massacred. Most of his family and followers were killed, and the survivors were taken to Damascus.

The battle solidified the power of the Umayyad dynasty but also deepened the schism between Sunni and Shi'i Muslims. For the Shi'ah, the 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura, remains a solemn annual day of public mourning and remembrance of Husayn’s martyrdom.1