Idris I

Idris I, 1890–1983, king of Libya (1951–69). A grandson of the founder of the Sanusi Muslim sect, he became leader of the group in 1917. He was acknowledged (1920) by the Italians as emir of Cyrenaica but had to flee to Egypt in 1922 after quarreling with the Italian Fascists. He was restored to power by the British (1943) and became Libya's first king when independence was granted (1951). Deposed in a military coup (1969) by Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi, he went into exile in Egypt.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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