Idris of Libya

Idris (Muhammad Idris bin Muhammad al-Mahdi as-Senussi; 12 March 1889 – 25 May 1983) was King of Libya from 24 December 1951 until his overthrow on 1 September 1969, and before that head of the Senussi order and Emir of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania.¹

He was born at Jaghbub, the headquarters of the Senussi movement — the English and French texts give 12 March 1889, while some sources, and the Arabic article, give 1890 — a son of Muhammad al-Mahdi as-Senussi and a grandson of Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi, founder of the Senussi Sufi order.¹

In 1916 he succeeded his cousin Ahmed Sharif as chief of the Senussi order, ended the order's attacks on British forces in Egypt, and negotiated the settlements of al-Zuwaytina and Acroma with Italy; in 1920 the Accord of al-Rajma recognised him as Emir of Cyrenaica, and in 1922 the Tripolitanians offered him their emirate too.¹ As Italy reconquered Libya he withdrew into long exile in Egypt.¹

After the Second World War the United Nations resolved on Libyan independence, and Idris was proclaimed king of the federal United Kingdom of Libya on 24 December 1951.¹ He banned political parties, made the kingdom a unitary state in 1963, and presided over the first oil boom. While he was in Turkey for medical treatment, army officers under Muammar Gaddafi deposed him on 1 September 1969.¹

He lived in exile in Cairo, where he died on 25 May 1983; he was buried in Al-Baqi Cemetery in Medina.¹

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