He is most notoriously remembered for the Battle of Kerbela where the grandson of Muhammad, Husayn bin Ali was killed. Husayn wasn't the only eminent figure to oppose Yazid's ascension to the caliphate, he was also opposed by Abdullah bin Zubayr who claimed to be the true caliph. When the people of the Hejaz began giving allegiance to Abdullah, Yazid sent armies to subdue the province, and Mecca was beseiged. During the seige, the Kaba was damaged, but the seige was ended with Yazid's sudden death in 683.

His ruthlessness in pursuing Husayn, and his rather weak rule has made him a despised person in Islamic History