Ghazi of Iraq

Ghazi (March 21, 1912 - April 4, 1939) was king of Iraq from 1933 to 1939. He was born in Mecca (in present-day Saudi Arabia), the son of Faisal I, the first king of Iraq. Being the only son of Faisal I (after three daughters), he was left to take care of his grandfather, Hussein ibn Ali, the Grand Sharif of Mecca, while his father was busy in his campaigns and travels. He therefore grew up, unlike his wordly father, a shy and inexperienced young man. He left the Hijaz to Jordan with the rest of the Hashimites in 1924 after their defeat by the forces of Ibn Sa'ud. He came to Baghdad at the same year and was appointed as the crown prince.

Related Topics:
March 21 - 1912 - April 4 - 1939 - King of Iraq - 1933 - Mecca - Saudi Arabia - Faisal I - Hussein ibn Ali - Grand Sharif of Mecca - Hijaz - Jordan - Hashimites - Ibn Sa'ud - Baghdad - Crown prince

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He was crowned as Ghazi I after the death of his father in December 1933. A staunch pan-Arab nationalist, opposed to British interests in his country, Ghazi's reign was characterized by tensions between civilians and the army, which sought control of the government. He supported General Bakr Sidqi in his coup, which replaced the civilian government with a military one. This was the first coup d'état to take place in the Arab world. He was rumored to harbor sympathies for Nazi Germany and also put forth a claim for Kuwait to be annexed to Iraq. For this purpose he had his own radio station in al-Zuhoor royal palace in which he promoted that claim. He died in 1939 in a mysterious accident involving a sports car he was driving. Some believe he was killed on the orders of Nuri as-Said. His son Faisal succeeded him.

Related Topics:
Pan-Arab - Nationalist - British - Bakr Sidqi - Coup d'état - Nazi - Germany - Kuwait - Iraq - 1939 - Nuri as-Said - Faisal

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