Faisal I

Faisal I or Faysal I (both: fī`səl), 1885–1933, king of Iraq (1921–33). The third son of Husayn ibn Ali, sherif of Mecca, he is also called Faisal ibn Husayn. Faisal was educated in Constantinople and later sat in the Ottoman parliament as deputy for Jidda. In World War I he served with the Turkish army in Syria until 1916, when, escaping to Arabia, he joined with T. E. Lawrence in an Arab revolt. Faisal was disappointed in his hope to rule as king over all Arab territory in the Ottoman Empire. His aspirations were partly satisfied in 1920, when a Syrian nationalist congress proclaimed him king, but France, the mandatory power, forced him to abdicate later that year. In 1921 the British, who held the mandate of Iraq, nominated Faisal as king, and he was confirmed by a plebiscite. As king, he generally cooperated with the British and actively participated in the affairs of government, particularly in achieving Iraq's independence and membership in the League of Nations (1932). He was succeeded by his son, Ghazi.

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Faisal I, Feisal I

1885--1933, king of Syria (1920) and first king of Iraq (1921--33): a leader of the Arab revolt against the Turks (1916--18)

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Faisal I 

Born 1883 in Al-Ta’if; died Sept. 8, 1933, in Bern. Arab political and state figure. King of Syria (1920) and Iraq (1921–33); member of the Hashimite dynasty.

On the eve of and during World War I, Faisal maintained ties with the Arab nationalists of the Ottoman Empire. After an uprising broke out in the Hejaz in 1916, Emir Faisal assumed the leadership of the northern army of Arab rebels, which liberated Syria and Transjordan from the Turks in 1918. He represented the Hejaz at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919–20. From 1918 to 1920, Faisal headed the Arab administration in Syria; in March 1920 he was proclaimed king of Syria. When the French occupied Syria in late July 1920, he was driven from the country. By order of the British colonial authorities, Faisal was proclaimed king of Iraq in August 1921.

Relying on feudal landowning circles for support, Faisal carried out reactionary policies and was closely allied with the leaders of pro-British political groups.