Person
Muʿāwiya ibn Abī Sufyān
معاوية بن أبي سفيان
Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān · Khāl al-Muʾminīn (Uncle of the Believers — through his sister Umm Ḥabība)
602 CE – 680 CE(aged ~78) Banū Umayya
Founder and first caliph of the Umayyad Dynasty (41-60 AH / 661-680 CE). Son of Abū Sufyān ibn Ḥarb. Companion of the Prophet ﷺ (accepted Islam at the Conquest of Mecca). Served as a scribe of revelation. Brother of Umm Ḥabība (Mother of the Believers). Governor of Sham under ʿUmar and ʿUthmān. After ʿUthmān's assassination, refused to give bayʿa to ʿAlī until vengeance was taken; fought ʿAlī at Ṣiffīn (37 AH); after al-Ḥasan's abdication in 41 AH became sole caliph and moved the capital from Kufa to Damascus. Established the dynastic principle by appointing his son Yazīd as successor — a controversial move that triggered the second Fitna.
Significance
Founder and first caliph of the Umayyad Dynasty (41-60 AH / 661-680 CE). Son of Abū Sufyān ibn Ḥarb. Companion of the Prophet ﷺ (accepted Islam at the Conquest of Mecca). Served as a scribe of revelation. Brother of Umm Ḥabība (Mother of the Believers). Governor of Sham under ʿUmar and ʿUthmān. After ʿUthmān's assassination, refused to give bayʿa to ʿAlī until vengeance was taken; fought ʿAlī at Ṣiffīn (37 AH); after al-Ḥasan's abdication in 41 AH became sole caliph and moved the capital from Kufa to Damascus. Established the dynastic principle by appointing his son Yazīd as successor — a controversial move that triggered the second Fitna.
Reputation in tradition
mixed
Stated motivation
Establish control and avenge Uthman's death
Sources: Wikipedia and classical Islamic biographical literature compiled by automated researchers. Every page is being continuously refined — if something looks off, please check back in a few days.