The first four caliphs of the Islamic empire – Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali are referred to as Rashidun (rightly guided) Caliphs (632-661 CE) by mainstream Sunni Muslims. Their tenure started with the death of Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE, when Abu Bakr took the title of Caliph – the successor of the Prophet, although not a continuation of prophethood itself (according to the Muslims, it had ended with Muhammad), and ended with the assassination of Caliph Ali in 661 CE.
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Definition
Timeline
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632 - 634Abu Bakr becomes the first caliph (successor to Muhammad) of the Rashidun Caliphate.
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634Battle of Ajnadayn; a decisive victory for the Rashidun Caliphate.
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634Damascus falls to the Rashidun Caliphate.
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634 - 644Umar ibn al-Khattab succeeds Abu Bakr, becoming the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate.
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635Battle of Fahl; the forces of the Rashidun Caliphate defeat the Palestinean garrison of the Byzantine Empire.
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15 Aug 636 - 20 Aug 636Battle of Yarmuk is fought between the Rashidun Caliphate and the Byzantine Empire.
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20 Aug 636Rashidun forces defeat the Byzantines in the Battle of Yarmouk.
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637Muslim invasion of the Levant. The Byzantines are driven out.
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640 - 650The Rashidun Caliphate conquers Armenia.
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642Byzantine Alexandria falls to the Rashidun Caliphate.
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644 - 656Uthman ibn 'Affan succeeds Umar to become the third caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate.
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649The Rashidun Caliphate attacks Byzantine Cyprus.
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651Arab Rashidun Caliphate conquers the Sasanian Empire.
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654Byzantine Crete, Kos and Rhodes fall to the Rashidun Caliphate.
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656 - 661Ali ibn Abi Talib succeeds Uthman to become the fourth and final caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate.
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659A peace treaty is signed between the Byzantine Empire and the Rashidun Caliphate.
