Abul Abbas al-Saffah, Muslim caliph (b. 721)
Abd Allah ibn Muhammad (Arabic: عبد الله ابن محمد, romanized: ‘Abd Allāh ibn Muḥammad; c. 721–June 754), commonly known as Saffah (Arabic: سفاح, romanized: Saffāḥ, lit. 'the Blood-Shedder') was the founder and first caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate, ruling from 750 until his death. Previously, he served as the figurehead of the Abbasid Revolution, which overthrew the Umayyad Caliphate.
Saffah was a patrilineal great-great grandson of Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib. During the Third Fitna, with the aide of the Banu Hashim, Saffah revolted against the Umayyads in their important northeastern province of Khurasan. He relied on loyalist pro-Alid groups, ensuring their support in favor of the revolution. Saffah heavily depended on his commander-in-chief Abu Muslim. Following the death of the last Umayyad caliph Marwan II (r. 744–750) in the decisive Battle of the Zab, Saffah was acknowledged caliph throughout the caliphate.