History of the Umayyad Caliphs, by Jalâl ad-Dîn as-Suyûtî, Heritage Collection

First hereditary dynasty of the Muslim world, model of Islamic states to come in many respects and last power to unite all the lands of Islam under a single and unique authority, the Umayyad caliphate is, at its peak, one of the greatest empires in history which extends over ten million square kilometers and floats its white banners from the modern borders of France to those of China.

This era of a century, strewn with so many terrible tragedies that will forever mark the Muslim world as well as glorious achievements, is also that of the metamorphosis of a young and revolutionary faith into a brilliant and mature civilization that will be qualified by the sequel to “Arab-Islamic”. For however controversial some of the Banû Umayya have been, few families in Islamic history will be found to have produced such a series of statesmen of genius, visionary conquerors, unequaled builders, administrators experienced and fine diplomats…

Through a colorful collection of anecdotes and stories about the vices and virtues of the Umayyads, as-Suyutî delivers in this extract from his "History of the Caliphs" an uncompromising dive into the heart of the society of the time and of this clan full of paradoxes and much more complex than it seems.