Milestone·Umayyad
Abbasid Revolt Begins in Khurasan
- Date
- 747 CE129 AH1,279 years ago
- Place
- Merv, Khurasan
- People
- Abu Muslim al-Khurasani, Ibrahim al-Imam
In 747 CE, Abu Muslim al-Khurasani led a revolt in Khurasan against the Umayyads. Supporters rallied under black banners and drew on a network of secret organizers. Abu Muslim took Merv, the regional capital, and then moved toward Iraq. The revolt drew strong support from Persian and Arab groups who resented Umayyad taxes and favoritism toward Arab elites.
Why it matters
This revolt brought down the Umayyads and started the Abbasid caliphate, which governed from Baghdad for centuries.