MU'AWIYAH I

born c. 602, , Mecca, Arabia died , April/May 680, Damascus in full Mu'awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan, Mu'awiyah also spelled Moawiyah early Islamic leader and founder of the great Umayyad dynasty of caliphs. He fought against the fourth caliph, 'Ali (Muhammad's son-in-law), seized Egypt, and assumed the caliphate after 'Ali's assassination in 661. He restored unity to the Muslim empire and made Damascus its capital. He reigned from 661 to 680.