Page 77 - Royal Jordanian Air Force Book

H O W I T A L L STA RT E D

The Hashemites dynasty, to which His Majesty King
Abdullah II belongs, is the direct descendants of
Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). His Majesty is the 43rd
direct descendant of the Prophet and his ancestors
ruled Hejaz, where the holy city of Mecca is, for 724
years (598-1344 Hijri, corresponding to 1201-1925
AD).

Towards the end of the Ottoman rule, a political
crisis erupted between Sharif Hussein Bin Ali of
Mecca and the Turkish rulers, after they turned
down his demands to give Arabs their rights and
release prisoners in Ottoman jails.

The Great Arab Revolt ensued, resulting in the
expulsion of the Turks from Arab land, but
triumphant Britain in WWI went back on its
promises to the Sharif to support a united Arab
Hashemite state in Hejaz, Iraq and Greater Syria.

In 1921, Emir Abdullah Bin Al-Hussein founded
the Emirate of Transjordan after the fall of the
short-lived Hashemite Kingdom in Syria led by his
brother, Emir Faisal, who later became the King
of Iraq, while their elder brother, Ali, ascended to
the throne of the Kingdom of Hejaz, succeeding his
father.

At the end of the Great War, Transjordan came
under a British mandate and by 1921, the emirate
was established under the rule of Emir Abdullah. In
1946, the country became a fully indepen dent and
sovereign state and Emir Abdullah was proclaimed
King. In 1950, as a result of the Arab-Israeli War
of 1948, the part of Palestine known as the West
Bank with the Arab city of Jerusalem, which had
been defended by the Arab Legion of Jordan during
the war, was united with the Hashemite Kingdom.
Over the years Jordan was involved in wars and
skirmishes with Israel to defend the part of the
country which was lost in 1967.

King Abdullah I was assassinated in Jerusalem on
July 20, 1951 whilst attending Friday prayers at Al
Aqsa Mosque. He was succeeded by his son, Talal,
who later abdicated. King Hussein acceded to the
Throne on August 11, 1952. He passed away in 1999
and was succeeded by his son King Abdullah II.

76 ROYAL JORDANIAN AIR FORCE