Battle of the Zab

The 750 battle near the Great Zab River in which Abbasid forces defeated Umayyad caliph Marwan II, ending Umayyad rule over the caliphate.

Abbasid Revolution: The movement that overthrew the Umayyad Caliphate and established Abbasid rule in 750. The battle was the revolution’s decisive military victory in Iraq.
Great Zab River: A major tributary of the Tigris flowing through southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq. The battle took its name from this river, near which the armies met.
Abbasid Caliphate: The caliphate founded by the Abbasid dynasty in 750, which ruled much of the Islamic world. The victory cleared the way for its establishment under al-Saffah.
Battle of the Battle of the Zab: A battle fought in 750 between Abbasid forces and the Umayyad army led by Marwan II. The engagement itself is the central event behind the dynasty’s collapse.
Umayyad Caliphate: The first hereditary caliphate, ruled by the Umayyad dynasty from 661 to 750. The battle ended this dynasty’s rule over the central caliphate.
Abd Allah ibn Ali: An Abbasid commander and uncle of the first Abbasid caliph, al-Saffah. He led the Abbasid army against Marwan II at the river.
Al-Saffah: The first Abbasid caliph, who ruled from 750 to 754. He became caliph after Abbasid forces defeated Marwan II.
Abd al-Rahman ibn Mu'awiya: An Umayyad prince who escaped the Abbasid takeover and later became Abd al-Rahman I. His flight illustrates how one branch of the defeated dynasty survived.
Abu Muslim: A military and political leader who organized the Abbasid revolt in Khurasan. His campaign helped bring Abbasid forces to the decisive confrontation.
Battle of the Karbala: The 680 battle in which Husayn ibn Ali and his small force were killed by Umayyad troops. Unlike this earlier Umayyad victory, the Great Zab brought the dynasty’s military defeat.

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