Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Faisal II

Role / Field:

The last King of Iraq, whose reign ended by the 14 July Revolution in 1958.

Born:

1935-05-02

Died:

1958-07-14

Century / Era:

1935s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Faisal II (Arabic: الملك فيصل الثاني, romanized: al-Malik Fayṣal al-thānī; 2 May 1935 – 14 July 1958) was the last King of Iraq. He reigned from 4 April 1939 until July 1958, when he was killed during the 14 July Revolution. This regicide marked the end of the thirty-seven-year-old Hashemite monarchy in Iraq, which then became a republic. The only son of King Ghazi and Queen Aliya of Iraq, Faisal acceded to the throne at the age of three after his father was killed in a car crash.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

A regency was set up under his uncle Prince 'Abd al-Ilah. In 1941, a pro-Axis coup d'état overthrew the regent. The British responded by initiating an invasion of Iraq a month later and restored 'Abd al-Ilah to power. During the Second World War, Faisal was evacuated along with his mother to the United Kingdom. There, he attended Harrow School alongside his cousin Hussein, the future King of Jordan.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The regency ended in May 1953 when Faisal came of age. The overthrow of the Egyptian monarchy in 1952 and the formation of the United Arab Republic in February 1958 only provided impetuses to ideas of a revolution. The Hashemite Arab Federation was formed between Iraq and Jordan in February 1958 with Faisal as...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 14th Dalai Lama — Contemporary (Born in 1935) (1935): Spiritual leader of Tibet and head of Tibetan Buddhism since 1940.
• A. J. Foyt — Contemporary (Born in 1935) (1935): Legendary American racing driver, known for winning the Indy 500 four times.
• Abraham Isaac Kook — Contemporary (Died in 1935) (1935): Pioneering Orthodox Rabbi and Father of Religious Zionism.
• Alec Baldwin — Contemporary (Born in 1958) (1958): Versatile American actor known for dramatic depth and comedic timing.
• Andie MacDowell — Contemporary (Born in 1958) (1958): Acclaimed American actress and model known for romantic and dramatic roles.
• André Bazin — Contemporary (Died in 1958) (1958): Influential French film critic and theorist championing cinematic realism.
• Athanasius Kircher — Shared historical date (05-02 · Born) (1602): German Jesuit polymath renowned for works in religion, geology, and comparative studies.
• Athanasius of Alexandria — Shared historical date (05-02 · Died) (373): The Great Theologian and Patriarch of Alexandria, defender of Nicene orthodoxy.
• Alphonse Mucha — Shared historical date (07-14 · Died) (1939): Master of Art Nouveau, famed for decorative posters and The Slav Epic.
• Anne Golon — Shared historical date (07-14 · Died) (2017): French author, best known for the bestselling Angélique novels.
• 1935 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1935
• May 2 (05-02) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 2
• 1958 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1958
• July 14 (07-14) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 14

Frequently Asked Questions about Faisal II