Yazid ruled from April 680 until his death in November 683.  He was the first person in the history of the Caliphate to be nominated as heir based on blood relationship and thus his appointment is seen as a corruption of the caliphate.  Historical accounts portray him as a vulgar man with a lavish lifestyle that included drinking, dancing, music, hunting, and playing with monkeys and hounds.  He is described by Muslim historians as "a sinner in respect of his belly and his private parts", "an arrogant drunken sot," and "motivated by defiance of God, lack of faith in His religion and hostility toward His Messenger."  Although Yazid had given himself the title of amir al mu’minin (commander of the faithful), Baladhuri (d. 892) described him as the "commander of the sinners" (amir al-fasiqin),

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As for his violence, Yazid is responsible for the following three major crimes during his caliphate:

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In October 680, he sent troops to brutally massacre the Holy Prophet’s (p) grandson Husayn ibn Ali (p) and his family.

 

In August 683, he dispatched an army of 12,000 soldiers to reconquer the Hejaz region (which includes the city of Medina and Mecca).  According to the accounts of Abu Mikhnaf and al-Samhudi, the city of Medina was sacked and troops given free rein to pillage Medina for three days.  Over 10,000 Medinese casualties occurred during the battle and the immediate aftermath.  Al-Samhudi estimates that as a result of the rape of Medinese women by the troops, approximately 1,000 Medinese women gave birth to illegitimate children.

 

In September 683, he ordered his army to proceed to Mecca.  His troops laid siege on Mecca which lasted for several weeks and set the Kaaba on fire.