Idris I of Libya
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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]]
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[[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]]
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