The King of Syria, was the title briefly used following the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire in the aftermath of World War I. Faysal ibn Husayn of the House of Hashim was proclaimed King of Greater Syria on 8 March 1920 in Damascus, following the Arab revolt against the Ottomans of 1916–1918.
His accession was not recognized by France or the United Kingdom, the two new imperial powers in the region, and on 23 July 1920 the French moved 9000 troops towards Damascus resulting in the Battle of Maysalun. Faisal was expelled from Syria on 25 July and took exile in the United Kingdom. On 10 August, the Treaty of Sèvres divided the region into League of Nations mandates governed by France and the United Kingdom. Following mass revolts in Mesopotamia, the British government decided to step back from direct administration and create a monarchy to head Iraq while they maintained the mandate. Faisal agreed to become King following a referendum showing 96% in favour, and on 23 August 1921, Faisal was crowned King of Iraq.
Famous quotes containing the words king of, king and/or syria:
“Gargantua, at the age of four hundred four score and forty- four years begat his son Pantagruel, from his wife, named Badebec, daughter of the King of the Amaurotes in Utopia, who died in child-birth: because he was marvelously huge and so heavy that he could not come to light without suffocating his mother.”
—François Rabelais (1494–1553)
“...if I perish, I perish.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Esther 4:16.
Queen Esther, as she gathers strength to go to the king on behalf of her people.
“...that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.”
—Bible: Hebrew, 2 Kings 5:8.
Elijah to the king of Israel who has received a letter from the king of Syria looking for someone to cure his commander of leprosy.