Maslama

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Maslama bin Abdul-Malik (685–738), (Arabic: مَسلَمة بن عبد الملك), was a famous Muslim military commander of the Arabs heralding from the Umayyad Dynasty. He was born around 685 A.D. in Damascus to Abd al-Malik Ibn Marawan the Umayyad Caliph. He was described as being a very pious man, who led Jihad against the Romans. However, since his mother was a slave (Um-Walad), he was not nominated to become a Caliph. He is well known for fighting the Byzantine Empire, leading the army who unsuccessfully laid siege to Constantinople for two years during the Second Arab siege of Constantinople.

In 98 A.H./717 A.D. Maslamah was appointed ruler of what is now Iraq by his brother Caliph Yazid II. He was sent by his younger brother Caliph Hisham to Iraq to suppress a rebellion and then in 107 A.H./725 A.D. was appointed governor of Azerbaijan and Armenia. He died in Damascus in 120 A.H./738 A.D.