20th century – 20th century
North Africa
The Kingdom of Libya was established in 1951 when Fezzan, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica were merged into a new state under Muhammad Idris, the Sanusi Emir of Cyrenaica. The monarchy lasted slightly more than a decade before being abolished by a military movement led by Colonel Qadhdhafi, or Gadafi.
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The Story
Libya entered independence through the creation of a monarchy led by Muhammad Idris, who had previously been the Sanusi Emir of Cyrenaica. His accession linked the political authority of Cyrenaica with the formation of a wider Libyan state. The monarchy therefore rested on the union of territories that had previously existed as separate Italian provinces.
In 1951, Fezzan, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica were merged together to form the new state. This territorial consolidation provided the institutional setting for the kingdom under Muhammad Idris. The passage presents the arrangement as part of a broader group of conservative-monarchical settlements at African independence.
The monarchical experiment proved short-lived. After just over a decade of independence, the Libyan monarchy was abolished by the military, led by Colonel Qadhdhafi, also rendered as Gadafi. The overthrow ended the constitutional settlement associated with Muhammad Idris.
20th century – 20th century
North Africa
The Kingdom of Libya was established in 1951 when Fezzan, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica were merged into a new state under Muhammad Idris, the Sanusi Emir of Cyrenaica. The monarchy lasted slightly more than a decade before being abolished by a military movement led by Colonel Qadhdhafi, or Gadafi.
Continue exploring
The Story
Libya entered independence through the creation of a monarchy led by Muhammad Idris, who had previously been the Sanusi Emir of Cyrenaica. His accession linked the political authority of Cyrenaica with the formation of a wider Libyan state. The monarchy therefore rested on the union of territories that had previously existed as separate Italian provinces.
In 1951, Fezzan, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica were merged together to form the new state. This territorial consolidation provided the institutional setting for the kingdom under Muhammad Idris. The passage presents the arrangement as part of a broader group of conservative-monarchical settlements at African independence.
The monarchical experiment proved short-lived. After just over a decade of independence, the Libyan monarchy was abolished by the military, led by Colonel Qadhdhafi, also rendered as Gadafi. The overthrow ended the constitutional settlement associated with Muhammad Idris.