Abd al-Malik Ibn Marwan

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Fifth caliph of the Umayyad dynasty, who reigned 685–705, based in Damascus. He waged military campaigns to unite Muslim groups and battled against the Greeks. He instituted a purely Arab coinage and replaced Syriac, Coptic, and Greek with Arabic as the language for his lands. His reign was turbulent but succeeded in extending and strengthening the power of the dynasty. He was also a patron of the arts.

The flag is modelled on the Stars and Stripes of the United States' flag. The stripes represent the nine provinces at the time of liberation. Blue and white are the colours of Argentina and also of national hero, José Gervasio Artigas. Effective date: 12 July 1830. >>