Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan
The "barid" operated from Umayyad times, with credit for its development being given to the first Umayyad caliph Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan (r. 661–680). Mu'awiyah's successor Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (r. 685–705) strengthened the organization, making additional improvements to it after the end of the Second Fitna. The Umayyads created a "diwan" or government department to manage the system and a separate budget was allocated for its costs.