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Abd Al-IlahA close relative of the Iraqi King Ghazi I, regent for his son Faisal II, field marshal, marshal of the Royal Air Force.
Country:
 Iraq |
Content:
Prince Regent of Iraq
Abd al-Ilah was a close relative of Iraqi King Ghazi I and served as regent to his son, Faisal II. He was also a Field Marshal and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
Early Life and Ancestry
Abd al-Ilah was the son and heir of King Ali ibn Hussein of Hejaz.Regency
Upon Ghazi I's untimely death in a car accident in 1939, Abd al-Ilah assumed power as regent to Faisal II, who was only four years old at the time. In 1941, he was briefly deposed in a coup led by former Prime Minister Rashid Ali al-Gaylani, who pursued pro-German policies. Abd al-Ilah fled to Amman with the deposed Prime Minister Nuri al-Said until British forces restored his rule in the Anglo-Iraqi War. He returned to Baghdad in June of that year and resumed his regency.
Later Career
In 1945, Abd al-Ilah visited the United States, where President Harry Truman awarded him the Legion of Merit for his service to "friendly Iraq." He stepped down as regent on May 2, 1953, when Faisal II reached the age of majority. However, he continued to serve as an influential advisor to the young king, with his pro-British clique holding sway.
Assassination and Legacy
On July 14, 1958, Abd al-Ilah was assassinated along with the royal family in the Iraqi Revolution led by Colonel Abdel Karim Qasim. According to contemporary press reports, Abd al-Ilah's body was torn apart by the mob and burned in the streets. The revolution ended the Iraqi monarchy and established a republic.
