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Jan 1, 706
Construction of Umayyad Mosque
The sixth Umayyad caliph, al-Walid I, ordered the destruction of a Byzantine Cathedral in order to build the Umayyad Mosque. It was used to serve as a tribute to Damascus and as a place for citizens to congregate. This was completed in 715. -
Jan 1, 750
Neglection of Mosque
As a result of the Abbasid Dynasty coming into power, the mosque recieved a lot less attention and suffered between the 8th and 10th centuries. However, the mosque was spared demolition due to its importance in the triumph of Islam. -
Jan 1, 1069
Mosque Fire
During an uprising between Damascus residents and the Fatimid Berber army, the mosque's northern wall was destroyed by fire along with various other parts of the mosque. -
Jan 1, 1078
Repairing Mosque
The Sunni Muslims gained control over the city and repaired all the damages from the fire, leaving the mosque in better condition than before. -
Jan 1, 1148
Mosque verse Crusaders
The despute between the Crusaders and Damascus escalated and the mosque was used as a main meeting place for Muslims to come and defend the city. Later, the Crusader army withdrew from Damascus when the citizens resisted their attempt to advance. -
Jan 1, 1260
Mongols Take Control
The Mongols joined forces with the Crusaders and captured Damascus. The general who lead the invasion held a Catholic service in the mosque. However, the Mongols lost control later that year. The control of the city went back and forth between the Mongols and the Mamluks and various leaders made many restorations. -
Mar 17, 1400
Bye Bye Mosque
Mongol leader, Timur, captured the city and demanded all of Damascus to be burnt down. During the burning, the Umayyad Mosque to burnt to ashes and the central dome collapsed. -
Jan 1, 1516
Mosque Restoration
The Mamluks then took control again and restored the mosque's damages. They then lost control of the city in 1516 to the Ottomans. -
Fire #3
The mosque's elaborate mosaics and marble panelling were once again ruined by fire. The Ottomans restored the damages but mainly kept the original structure. -
Pope visits Mosque
Pope John Paul II visted the mosque. This was the first time a pope had ever paid a visit to a mosque. His main purpose was to commemorate John the Baptist. -
Pro-Democracy Protest at Umayyad Mosque
When roughly 50 worshippers began chanting pro-democracy slogans outside the Umayyad Mosque, Syrian security forces quickly ended it. This initiated the first of many significant protests. The mosque has since been closed off to the public in order to prevent larger protests. -
The Mosque Now
See current events tab. -
Expansion of Mosque
By 831, the mosque had undergone multiple renevations. The Abbasid governer had built the Dome of the Clock in the Eastern section. He then ordered the construction of the Dome of Treasury. The last addition was the establishment of the northern minaret. They also removed the original Umayyad inscriptions.
