The History of the abd Al-malik Ibn Marwan fifth caliph (685-705) of the Umayyad Arab dynasty

"In full abd Al-malik Ibn Marwan fifth caliph (685-705) of the Umayyad Arab dynasty centred in Damascus. He reorganized and strengthened governmental administration and, throughout the empire. adopted Arabic as the language of administration.
Abd al-Malik spent the first half of his life with his father, Marwan ibn al-Sakam fourth Umayyad caliph, in Medina. where he received religious instruction and developed. friendly relations with the pious circles of that city that were to stand him in good stead in his later life. At the age of 16. he was entrusted by his kinsman. the caliph Muawiyah, with administrative responsibilities. He remained at Medina until 683, when he and his father were driven out of the city by Medinese rebels in revolt against the central government in Damascus. He then met
the Syrian Umayyad army that was marching on Medina and gave its commander advice about the best means of attacking the city. advice that was followed and proved successful. When the caliph Yaz Yd died in November 683. Marwan was proclaimed caliph in 684 and was able to effect a partial rally of Umayyad rufe but at the cost of a bitter feud that arose between northern and southern Arab tribes. When Marwan died in 685 and Abd al-Malik succeeded tothe caliphate. the forces opposing the Umayyads were still formidable."