Kingdom of Iraq

Infobox Former Country
native_name = المملكة العراقية
"al-Mamlaka al-Iraqia"
conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Iraq
common_name = Iraq
continent = moved from Category:Asia to the Middle East
region = the Middle East
country = Iraq
era = Interwar period
government_type = Monarchy |
event_start = Independence
year_start = 1932
date_start = October
event_end = 14 July Revolution
year_end = 1958
date_end = July 14
event_pre = Coronation
date_pre = August, 1921
event1 = Coup d'état
date_event1 = May, 1941
event2 = Baghdad Pact
date_event2 = 1955|
p1 = British Mandate of Mesopotamia
flag_p1 = Flag of Iraq 1924.svg
s1 = Arab Federation
flag_s1 = Flag of the Arab Federation.svg|

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capital = Baghdad
national_anthem = Royal Salute
common_languages =Arabic
religion = Islam|
leader1 = Faisal I
year_leader1 = 1921-1933
leader2 = Ghazi
year_leader2 = 1933-1939
leader3 = Faisal II
year_leader3 = 1939-1958
title_leader = King

The Kingdom of Iraq ( _ar. المملكة العراقية) was the sovereign state of Iraq after the end of British Mandate of Mesopotamia. It began with the coronation of Faisal I in August 1921 and ended in 1958 when the monarchy was over thrown in a bloody coup lead by Abd al-Karim Qasim

Hashemite monarchy

Iraq was granted independence in 1932 with Faisal I as king. This made Iraq the first mandate created under the Treaty of Versailles to be granted independence. However the British retained military bases in the country. After Faisal died in 1933, king Ghazi reigned as a figurehead from 1933 to 1939 when he was killed in a motor accident. Pressure from Arab nationalists demanded that the British leave Iraq, their demands were ignored by the United Kingdom.

Anglo-Iraqi War and Second British Occupation

The 1941 Iraqi coup d'état overthrew the regent Nuri as-Said and placed Rashid Ali al-Gaylani as prime minister. Ali did not overthrow the monarchy, but installed a more compliant Regent, and attempted to restrict the rights of the British under the treaty from 1930.

On April 30 the Iraqi Army established itself on the high ground to the south of the Habbaniya air force base. An Iraqi envoy was sent to demand that no movements, either ground or air, were to take place from the base. The British refused the demand and then themselves demanded that the Iraqi army leave the area at once. After a further ultimatum given in the early hours of May 2 expired, at 0500 hours the British began bombing the Iraqi troops threatening the base.

Hostilities lasted from April 18 to May 30, 1941. The British would continue to occupy Iraq for many years afterward.

Republic Declared

Hashemite monarchy lasted until 1958, when it was overthrown through a coup d'état by the Iraqi Army, known as the 14 July Revolution. King Faisal II along with members of the royal family were excuted. The coup brought Abd al-Karim Qasim to power. He withdrew from the Baghdad Pact and established friendly relations with the Soviet Union.

ee also

*History of Iraq

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/dagtho/iraqiconst19250321.html Constitution of the Kingdom of Iraq]