- 'Abd al-Ilah
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Crown Prince Abd al-Ilāh of Hejaz, GCB, GCMG, GCVO (Arabic: عبد الإله) (also written Abdul Ilah or Abdullah) (November 14, 1913 — July 14, 1958) was a cousin and brother-in-law of King Ghazi of the Kingdom of Iraq. Abdul Ilah served as Regent for King Faisal II from April 4, 1939 to May 2, 1953, when Faisal came of age. He also held the title of Crown Prince of Iraq from 1943.[citation needed]
Contents
Biography
Son and heir of King Ali ibn Hussein of Hejaz, who was the elder brother of King Faisal I of Iraq, and brother of queen Aliya bint Ali, Abdul Ilah assumed power upon Ghazi's death in an automobile accident. He served as Regent for the under-age Faisal II.[citation needed]
1941 Iraqi coup d'état
During World War II, Abdul Ilah was deposed briefly by former Prime Minister Rashid Ali al-Kaylani. Rashid Ali led a pro-German coup d'état during World War II against Abdul Ilah's pro-British government. After he fled the country, Abdul Ilah was replaced as Regent by Sherif Sharaf. Sherif Sharaf was an aging, holy-minded relative of King Feisal. The deposed Regent spent his time with former Prime Minister Nuri as-Said as a refugee in Amman. Abdul Ilah was a guest of Prince ‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Husayn, the Hashemite ruler of Jordan (future King).[1]
On 2 May, the United Kingdom launched offensive actions against the Iraqi rebels. On 26 May, the New York Times newspaper reported that Abdul Illah had called for an uprising of tribal and religious leaders to help him overthrow the insurgent government. He appealed specifically to the Iraqi people, the army and the police to accomplish "this heavy task".
By 2 June, Rashid Ali's "National Defence Government" had collapsed and Rashid Ali had fled to Persia. Abdul Ilah returned to Baghdad and was restored as Regent.[2]
In 1942, Wendell Wilkie traveled to Britain and the Middle East as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's personal representative. In Iraq, Abdul Ilah held a lavish state dinner attended by Wilkie.[3]
Prince Abdul Ilah (holding hat) at Mount Vernon.
In 1945, Abdul Ilah visited the United States. He was the honoree at the first state dinner hosted by the new American First Lady, Bess Truman.[4] The Regent of "friendly Iraq" was awarded a Legion of Merit military decoration by President Harry S. Truman.[5]
In 1953, Abdul Ilah stepped down when Faisal II came of age. But he continued to be a close adviser of the young King, and an advocate of a pro-Western foreign policy.
In 1955, Iraq adopted the Baghdad Pact (also known as the Central Treaty Organization, or CENTO). The other members of the organization were Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The organization's headquarters were initially located in Baghdad.
In May 1957, King Ibn Saud made an eight-day visit to Iraq. He was met on his arrival by King Faisel II, Crown Prince Abdul Ilah, and Prime Minister Nuri as-Said. It was the Saudi King's first ever visit to Iraq and it commemorated Iraq's membership in the Arab Federation and its break with the United Arab Republic of Gamal Abdel Nasser.[6]
14 July Revolution
During the 14 July Revolution, Abdul Ilah was killed, along with most of the royal family. On 14 July 1958, a coup d'état led by Colonel Abdul Karim Qassim toppled the government and brought an end to the Iraqi monarchy. The body of Abdul Ilah was trailed on al Rashid street and was cut into pieces. According to the 21 July edition of Time Magazine, Gamel Abdel Nasser's "Middle East News Agency gleefully described the assassination of Crown Prince Abdul Illah: 'The people dragged Abdul Illah's body into the street like that of a dog and tore it limb from limb.' Then the mobs burned the body."[7]
Military ranks
'Abd al-Ilah held the following ranks:[8]
- Field Marshal, Royal Iraqi Army
- Marshal of the Royal Iraqi Air Force
- Air Marshal (honorary), Royal Air Force
See also
- 1941 Iraqi coup d'état
- Baghdad Pact
- 14 July Revolution
Notes
- ^ "Trouble in Paradise". Time Magazine. April 21, 1941. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,772682,00.html. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
- ^ Lyman, p. 86
- ^ "Points East". Time Magazine. September 28, 1942. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,773647,00.html. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
- ^ "Family at Home". Time Magazine. June 4, 1945. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,775715,00.html. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
- ^ "Talk & Ceremony". Time Magazine. June 11, 1945. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,775802,00.html. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
- ^ "Gathering of Kings". Time Magazine. May 25, 1957. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,809501,00.html. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
- ^ "Revolt in Baghdad". Time Magazine. July 21, 1958. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,868641,00.html. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
- ^ Al-Hashimi Dynasty. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
References
- Lyman, Robert (2006). Iraq 1941: The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Fallujah and Baghdad. Campaign. Oxford and New York: Osprey Publishing. pp. 96. ISBN 1-84176-991-6.
Further reading
- Churchill, Winston (1985) [1950]. "Chapter 14: The Revolt in Iraq". The Second World War, Volume III, The Grand Alliance. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0-395-41057-6.
Categories:- 1913 births
- 1958 deaths
- Murder in 1958
- Iraqi politicians
- House of Hashim
- Field Marshals of Iraq
- Marshals of the Royal Iraqi Air Force
- Royal Air Force air marshals
- Leaders ousted by a coup
- Princes of Iraq
- Deaths by firearm in Iraq
- Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- Murdered monarchs
- Executed royalty
- Executed Iraqi people
- People executed by Iraq
- Foreign recipients of the Legion of Merit
- People murdered in Iraq
- Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Poland)
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