kingdom · Egypt, North Africa and Sudan

Kingdom of Libya

1951 CE – 1969 CE · capital Tripoli

Independent Libya under King Idris, a poor federal monarchy transformed by oil discoveries and overthrown by Gaddafi in 1969.

Origins

Under a UN resolution, Libya became independent on 24 December 1951 as a federal kingdom uniting Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and the Fezzan, with Idris al-Senussi, ruler of the Emirate of Cyrenaica, as King Idris I.

Rule and society

At independence Libya was among the poorest countries in the world, depending on foreign aid and rent from British and American bases such as Wheelus Air Base. The discovery of oil in 1959 and exports from 1961 brought sudden wealth. In 1963 the federation was abolished in favour of a unitary state. The king ruled conservatively, relying on Cyrenaican tribes.

Decline and legacy

On 1 September 1969, while Idris was abroad, army officers led by Muammar Gaddafi seized power and declared a republic. Idris died in exile in Egypt in 1983, and his flag was revived by the rebels of 2011.

Lineage

British Military Administration of Libya 1943 CE – 1951 CEFezzan-Ghadames Military Territory 1943 CE – 1951 CEEmirate of Cyrenaica 1949 CE – 1951 CEKingdom of Libya

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Kingdom of Libya. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-libya
MLA
“Kingdom of Libya.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-libya. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Kingdom of Libya.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-libya.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Kingdom of Libya’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-libya (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻