biography
pronunciation:
[husayn ibn alee]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1856–1931)
|
| biography:
| King (1916–24) of the Hejaz (now a province in western Saudi Arabia), and founder of the modern Arab Hashemite dynasty, the great-grandfather of King Hussein of Jordan and father of King Faisal I. He was Sharif of Mecca (1908–16), and after first siding with the Turks and Germans in World War 1, under British encouragement came over to the side of the Allies, fighting for Arab independence (1916 against the Ottoman Empire), and was chosen first king of the Hejaz. He was forced to abdicate in 1924 when his country was invaded by Saudi forces and he lost British support, and went into exile in Cyprus. |
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