A quest on History and Functions of Military Establishments in Umayyad Era

After the rise of the Umayyad dynasty, the Simple living of the early Islam vanished and Damascus witnessed foundation of a splendid reign whose luxuriousness and sumptuousness assiciated an oriental-like monarchy. This article aims to find why and how the military structure in this period transformed. The characteristics and social background, directing peoples’ mind toward the conquests and, consequently, political attitudes of the Umayyad caliphs caused them to expansionism. Domestic uprisings and repeated retreats led the caliphate to make some changes in military establishments, established by the second caliph of the Rashidun, in terms of forming an stand by troops, the entering of Iranian and Turkish forces, using the tribal consolidation in order to mobilize the forces and choosing governors from the military commanders in the Marwanids era. Such changes were evidenced more in the combination and less in equipment. Yet, the Umayyads, instead of founding a professional and efficient army, created a militarist society.