YAZID IBN AL-MUHALLAB

born 672 died 720, Wasit, Iraq provincial governor in the service of several caliphs of the Umayyad dynasty. In the first years of the 8th century Yazid became governor of Khorasan. He soon came into conflict with the powerful governor of Iraq, al-Hajjaj, at whose instigation the caliph, al-Walid, had Yazid jailed. In 708 Yazid managed to escape, fleeing to the protection of Sulayman, al-Walid's brother. When in 715 Sulayman himself became caliph, Yazid was named governor of Iraq and embarked on a persecution of the followers of al-Hajjaj, who had died in 714. Later he was also named governor of Khorasan, while retaining supreme command in Iraq. Cruelty and extortion characterized his administration. In 717 he was again jailed when he was unable to transmit the appropriate tribute to Damascus. Once more he escaped, this time to lead a rebellion that resulted in his death.