Idris I of Libya 317442 224102758 2008-07-07T09:20:53Z 87.2.179.210 {{Infobox Monarch | name =Idris I | title =King of Libya | image = | reign =[[24 December]], [[1951]] – [[1 September]] [[1969]] | predecessor = | successor = | dynasty =[[Senussi]] | royal anthem = | father =Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Senussi | mother =Aisha bint Ahmad al-Syrte | date of birth =[[12 March]], [[1889]] | place of birth =[[Al-Jaghbub]], [[Libya]] | date of death = {{death date and age|1983|05|25|1889|03|12}} | place of death =[[Cairo]], [[Egypt]] | place of burial =[[Jannat al-Baqi]], [[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]] |}} '''Idris I''', [[GBE]] ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: إدريس الأول) born '''Sayyid Muhammad Idris bin Sayyid Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Senussi''', ([[March 12]], [[1889]] - [[May 25]], [[1983]]) was the only King of [[United Kingdom of Libya|Libya]], reigning from [[1951]] to [[1969]] and the Chief of the [[Senussi]] Muslim order. ==Early life== He was born at [[Al-Jaghbub]], the headquarters of the Senussi movement, the son of Sayyid Muhammad al-Mahdi bin Sayyid Muhammad al-Senussi and his fifth wife Aisha bint Ahmad al-Syrte. Idris was a grandson of [[Sayyid Muhammad bin 'Ali as-Senussi]], the founder of the [[Senussi]] [[Muslim]] [[sufi]] order. He became Chief of the Senussi order in [[1916]] following the abdication of his uncle [[Ahmad al-Senussi|Sayyid Ahmad as-Sharif bin Sayyid Muhammad as-Sharif as-Senussi]]. He was recognized by the British under the new title [[Emir]] of the territory of [[Cyrenaica]], a position also confirmed by the Italians in 1920. Politically, Idris spent the early part of his career attempting to negotiate independence for his territory, Cyrenaica. in [[1922]] after the [[Italy|Italians]] began waging military campaigns against the Libyan hinterland he went into exile. [[Egypt]] then served as his base in a [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla war]] against the [[colonialism|colonial]] Italian authorities. ==World War II== During [[World War II]], Idris supported the [[United Kingdom]] and brought the [[Cyrenaican]] nationalists to fight alongside [[the Allies]] against the [[Axis Powers|Axis]], which had occupied Libya. With the defeat of the [[Germany|German and Italian]] forces led by [[Erwin Rommel]], he was finally able to return to his capital, [[Benghazi]] and form an official government. ==Libyan independence== He was also invited to become [[Emir]] of [[Tripolitania]], another of the three traditional regions that now constitute modern Libya (the third is [[Fezzan]]). By accepting he began the process of uniting Libya under a single monarchy. From Benghazi, Idris led the team negotiating with the United Kingdom and the [[United Nations]] over independence. Independence was achieved on December 24, 1951, and Idris was proclaimed the King of Libya. To the chagrin of [[Arab]] nationalists at home and supporters of [[Pan-Arabism]] in neighbouring states, Idris maintained close ties with the United Kingdom and the [[United States]], even after they intervened against Egypt during the [[1956]] [[Suez Crisis]]. Another threat to his regime was his failure to produce a male heir to succeed him to the throne. The economy prospered from its [[Petroleum|oil]] fields and the presence of the American Air Force's [[Wheelus Air Base]] near Tripoli, but the king started to suffer from poor health. ==Overthrow and exile== On [[September 1]] [[1969]], while Idris was in [[Greece]] for medical treatment, he was deposed by the Libyan army under the leadership of Colonel [[Muammar al-Gaddafi|Muammar al-Qaddafi]] in a bloodless [[coup]]. The coup pre-empted Idris' instrument of abdication dated [[August 4]], [[1969]], to take effect [[September 2]], [[1969]], in favour of his nephew the Crown Prince [[Hasan as-Senussi]]. Idris lived in [[Greece]] for a while but went into exile in [[Egypt]], and died in [[Cairo, Egypt|Cairo]] in [[1983]]. == See also == * [[Sayyid]] [[Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi]] * [[Sayyid Hasan ar-Rida al-Mahdi as-Sanussi]] ==References== *[http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Libya/libya6.htm Royal Ark] {{s-start}} {{s-hou|[[Senussi|House of Senussi]]|March 12|1889|May 25|1983}} {{s-reg|}} {{s-new|rows=3|reason=New states created}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Cyrenaica|Emir of Cyrenaica]]|years=[[1920]] – [[24 December]] [[1951]]}} {{s-non|rows=2|reason=Titles dissolved|reason2=Countries merged into [[Kingdom of Libya]]}} |- {{s-ttl|title=[[Tripolitania|Emir of Tripolitania]]|years=[[1922]] – [[24 December]] [[1951]]}} |- {{s-ttl|title=[[List of heads of state of Libya|King of Libya]]|years=[[24 December]] [[1951]] – [[1 September]] [[1969]]}} {{s-vac|reason=[[Libya|Monarchy abolished]]}} {{s-off}} {{s-new|reason=[[Kingdom of Libya|Libyan independence]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of heads of state of Libya|Head of State of Libya]]|years=[[24 December]] [[1951]] – [[1 September]] [[1969]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Muammar al-Gaddafi|Mu‘ammar al-Qaddāfī]]|as=[[de facto]] leader of Libya}} {{s-ecc}} {{s-bef|before=[[Ahmad as-Senussi]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Senussi|Chief of the Senussi order]]|years=[[1916]] – [[4 August]] [[1969]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Hasan as-Senussi|Crown Prince Hasan]]}} {{s-pre|}} {{s-new|loss|reason=[[Lybia|Libyan revolution]]}} {{s-tul|title=[[List of heads of state of Libya|King of Libya]]|years=[[1 September|1]] – [[2 September]] [[1969]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Hasan as-Senussi|Crown Prince Hasan]]}} {{end}} {{LibyaHeadsofState}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Idris I}} [[Category:heads of state of Libya]] [[Category:1890 births]] [[Category:1983 deaths]] [[Category:Libyan politicians]] [[Category:World War II political leaders]] [[Category:Cold War leaders]] [[Category:Libyan monarchs]] [[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire]] [[ar:إدريس السنوسي]] [[bg:Идрис]] [[de:Idris (Libyen)]] [[es:Idris de Libia]] [[fr:Idris al-Mahdi]] [[id:Idris I dari Libya]] [[it:Idris I di Libia]] [[ja:イドリース1世]] [[sw:Idris I wa Libya]] [[pl:Idris I (Libia)]] [[pt:Idris I da Líbia]] [[fi:Idris I]] [[sv:Idris I]] [[tr:İdris I]]