Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan

Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan was the eldest son of Abu Sufyan and older brother of Muawiyah. He converted to Islam at the Conquest of Makkah in 8 AH and proved himself a capable commander. Abu Bakr appointed him one of the four generals for the conquest of Syria (the others being Amr ibn al-As, Sharhabil ibn Hasanah, and Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah). He was responsible for the northern Syrian front and was among the commanders at the Battle of Yarmouk in 15 AH. After the Muslim conquest of Syria, he became the first Umayyad governor of Damascus. He was known as a just and capable administrator. He died in 18 AH during the great plague of Amwas (Emmaus), which killed thousands including Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah. His brother Muawiyah was appointed governor of Syria in his place, beginning Muawiyah's long career that eventually led to the Umayyad Caliphate.