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Abdallah HuseynKing of Jordan, born in 1882 in Mecca.
Country:
 Jordan |
Content:
- Abdullah I, King of Jordan (1882-1951)
- Participation in World War I
- Ruler of Transjordan (1921-1946)
- Support During World War II and Post-War Diplomacy (1939-1946)
- Creation of the Jordanian Hashemite Kingdom (1947-1951)
Abdullah I, King of Jordan (1882-1951)
Early Life and EducationAround 1896, Abdullah and his brother Faisal were sent to the Ottoman court in Istanbul for both education and as hostages from the Hashemite family. Around 1908, Abdullah became a representative of Mecca in the Chamber of Deputies and was shortly elected vice-chairman.
Participation in World War I
With the Ottoman Empire siding with Germany in World War I, Abdullah and his brother, with promises of British support, revolted and sided with the Allies. After the war, the Hejaz was recognized as a sovereign kingdom with Faisal attending the Paris Peace Conference while Abdullah remained with his father, who became King of Hejaz.
Ruler of Transjordan (1921-1946)
Emir of Nejd, Ibn Saud, initiated a war against the Hejaz, ending with Abdullah's forces defeated. In March 1920, Faisal was proclaimed King of Syria with Abdullah (by the Iraqi Congress in Damascus) as King of Iraq. Due to the establishment of British mandates and other complications, Faisal became King of Iraq while Abdullah became the Emir of Transjordan in 1921, a province created as a corridor between Egypt and Iraq.
On May 25, 1923, Transjordan was declared an autonomous state within the British Mandate of Palestine with Abdullah remaining as its ruler with the title of Emir. To fend off attacks from Bedouins and maintain order, Abdullah formed the Arab Legion under the command of British officer John Bagot Glubb, which developed into a formidable fighting force.
Support During World War II and Post-War Diplomacy (1939-1946)
Throughout World War II, Abdullah remained a key ally of Britain among Arab leaders, urging Muslims to stand against the Axis powers. On March 22, 1946, through a treaty with Britain, Transjordan was proclaimed a kingdom led by King Abdullah, with Britain guaranteeing military aid and receiving certain privileges.
In 1936, during the Arab Revolt in Palestine, Abdullah offered his services as a mediator, which despite being met with disapproval from Arabs, strengthened his position and allowed him to propose the creation of an Arab Federation with a Hashemite king. This federative vision later became the Arab League (1945) with Transjordan playing a significant role.
Creation of the Jordanian Hashemite Kingdom (1947-1951)
On October 20, 1947, under Abdullah's decree, Transjordan held its first parliamentary elections, and on March 15, 1948, a new treaty was signed with Britain effectively ending the mandate but allowing British troops to remain. In April 1948, the Arab League placed Abdullah in command of an army to counter the partition plan of Palestine following the withdrawal of British troops on May 15, 1948.
In December 1948, Abdullah received his government's approval to accept the crown of a unified Palestine and Transjordan. He envisioned a bloc of Middle Eastern states including Transjordan, Syria, Palestine, and Iraq, expanding his influence as circumstances allowed. However, this plan faced disapproval from other members of the Arab League, as did his intention to proclaim himself King of Transjordan and Palestine.
Despite opposition, King Abdullah, whose forces controlled the Arab portion of Palestine, continued his plans, signing an armistice with Israel, who had control of the Jewish sector of Palestine. In 1949, upon formal request, the official name of Abdullah's kingdom was changed to the constitutionally established "Jordanian Hashemite Kingdom," with Abdullah becoming King of Jordan.
Abdullah's policies drew discontent among Arabs, leading to his assassination by a member of an Arab terrorist group on July 20, 1951, as he entered the Omar Mosque in Jerusalem.
