Ibrahim ibn al-Walid (744 CE) was the thirteenth Umayyad caliph, but his reign was extremely brief and largely symbolic, lasting only about two months in 744 CE. He was the brother of Yazid III and was elevated to the caliphate during a period of great turmoil, following a string of short and unstable reigns during the Third Fitna (civil war). Ibrahim had little real authority and was quickly overthrown by a more powerful and ambitious rival—Marwan II—who would become the last effective Umayyad caliph in the East.
- Full Name: Ibrahim ibn al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik
- Reign: October – December 744 CE (~2 months)
- Dynasty: Umayyad
- Father: Al-Walid I
- Predecessor: Yazid III (his brother)
- Successor: Marwan II
- Capital: Damascus, Syria
⚔️ Background and Rise to Power
- Ibrahim was a son of Caliph Al-Walid I and was appointed by his brother, Yazid III, as heir to the caliphate.
- Upon Yazid’s death in October 744 CE, Ibrahim assumed the title of caliph, but his authority was never widely recognized.
- Most of the empire was in rebellion, especially under Marwan ibn Muhammad, the powerful governor of Armenia and Azerbaijan, who rejected Ibrahim’s rule outright.
💥 Challenges and Collapse
1. Lack of Support
- Ibrahim had no military base and lacked the political or tribal support needed to maintain power.
- His reign came during a time when the Umayyad dynasty was fractured, and loyalty to the central caliphate was collapsing.
2. Marwan II’s March
- Marwan ibn Muhammad marched on Syria with his army, rapidly advancing toward Damascus.
- With little resistance, Marwan took control of the capital and deposed Ibrahim within two months.
⚰️ Aftermath and Fate
- After his deposition, Ibrahim vanished from political life.
- Some sources say he was allowed to live quietly in seclusion, while others suggest he may have been killed later during Marwan II’s efforts to consolidate power.
- His short and powerless reign made him a minor figure in Umayyad history, more a placeholder than a ruler.
📉 Legacy
- Ibrahim’s reign symbolizes the depth of the Umayyad collapse during the Third Fitna.
- He was the last Umayyad caliph based in Damascus before the shift to Harran under Marwan II.
- His rule marked the final collapse of legitimacy for many in the Umayyad elite, paving the way for the Abbasid Revolution less than a decade later.
📝 Summary
Ibrahim ibn al-Walid (744 CE) ruled for just two months during a period of civil war and dynastic chaos. With little support and no control over the military, he was quickly deposed by Marwan II, signaling the near-total collapse of Umayyad authority in the eastern Islamic world.
