OTHMAN IBN AFFAN; third caliph of the Moslems, was b. about 574. He belonged to the family of the prophet, and was cousimgerman of Abu Soflan. One of the early converts to Islam, he was one of its most zealous supporters, and linked himself still more strongly to Mohammed by becoming his son-in-law and private secretary. TTe was elected to succeed Omar in the caliphate in Dec. 644, and a most unworthy successor ho proved to be. The Moslem empire, however, continued to extend itself on all sides till the insane nepotism of Othman gave its progress a sudden check. The able and ener getic leaders who had been appointed by Omar were superseded by members at his own family, and of that of Abu Sofian ; and the consequences were what might have been expected. Egypt revolted, and the caliph was compelled to reinstate Alum in the govern ment of that country, and several other rebellions were only quelled by a similar restof a tion of the previous governors. Zealous Moslems deeply deplored the folly of their chief, and were indignant at :Mug the chair of the prophet occupied by 011mma•, while Abu-bekr, and even Omar, were accustomed to seat themselves two steps below it.
Emboldened by the knowledge of his vacillating and cowardly disposition, they show ered upon him reproaches and menaces; but the bearer of their remonstrances having been bastinadoed by Othman's order, a general revolt ensued. Oilman averted the crisis by unconditional submission; but having soon after attempted to put to death Mohammed, the son of the caliph Abu-bekr, the latter made his appearance at Medina at the bead of a troop of malcontents, and forcing his way-to the presence of stabbed him to the heart. Othman was of a mild and pacific disposition, but he was at the same time most ambitious of power, though after his accession to supreme authority, be showed himself to be, either from age or natural imbecility, deplorably deficient in those energetic virtues, without which time control of a warlike people and the manage ment of a mighty empire such as that of the Moslems, were utterly impossible. Othman was the first to cause an authentic copy of the Koran to be composed.