Marwan I
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Marwan ibn al-Hakam (623 - 685) (Arabic: مروان بن الحكم) was the eighth Muslim Caliph, an Umayyad, who took over the dynasty after Muawiya II gave up the title in 684. Marwan's ascension pointed to a shift in the lineage of the Umayyad dynasty from descendants of Abu Sufyan to those of Hakam, both of whom were grandsons of Umayya (for whom the Umayyad dynasty is named). Hakam was a first cousin of Uthman ibn Affan.
Muhammad sent both him and his father, Hakam ibn al-Aas to exile, saying they should never return. During the reign of Uthman, he sent Marwan and possibly his father back. Marwan took advantage of his relationship to the caliph and was appointed governor of Medina.
During the "Battle of the Camel" Marwan ibn al-Hakam shot his general Talha with an arrow, resuting in his death. 23
He was removed from this position by Ali, only to be reappointed by Muawiya I. Marwan was eventually removed from the city when Abdullah ibn Zubayr rebelled against Yazid I. From here, Marwan went to Damascus, where he was made the caliph after Muawiyah II abdicated.
Marwan's short reign was marked by a civil war among the Umayyads as well as a war against Abdullah bin Zubayr who continued to rule over the Hejaz, Iraq, Egypt and parts of Syria. Marwan was able to win the Umayyad civil war, the result of which was a new Marwanid line of Umayyad caliphs. He was also able to recapture Egypt and Syria from Abdullah, but was not able to completely defeat him.
Note that Shi'a Muslims do not consider any of the Umayyad caliphs or any of the three predecessors to Ali to be legitimate. See Succession to Muhammad for more details.
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