MARWAN II

born c. 684 died 750, Egypt last of the Umayyad caliphs (reigned 744750). He was killed while fleeing the forces of Abu al-'Abbas as-Saffah, the first caliph of the 'Abbasid dynasty. The grandson of Marwan I, Marwan II was governor of Armenia and other territories for 12 years, gaining military experience which later led him to reorganize the Islamic army. In place of a clumsy system of divisions based on tribal loyalties, Marwan II created smaller, more mobile divisions of paid troops under professional commanders. Ascending to the throne in 744, he completed the reconquest of Syria by 746. However, the 'Abbasid rebellion broke out in 747, and a combined force of 'Abbasids, Persians, Iraqis, and Shi'ites decisively defeated the Umayyad army at the Battle of the Great Zab River in 750. The subsequent death of Marwan II marked the end of the Umayyad dynasty.