Arab Kingdom of Syria
The Arab Kingdom of Syria (Arabic: المملكة العربية السورية, al-Mamlakah al-‘Arabīyah as-Sūrīyah) was a self-proclaimed, unrecognized constitutional monarchy existing briefly in the territory of historical Syria. It was announced on 5 October 1918 as a fully independent Arab constitutional government with the permission of the British military. It gained de facto independence as an Emirate after the withdrawal of the British forces from OETA East on 26 November 1919, and was proclaimed as a Kingdom on 8 March 1920.
Arab Kingdom of Syria | |||||||||||||||
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| 1919–1920 | |||||||||||||||
Flag
Emblem
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| Anthem: سوريا يا ذات المجد O Syria, Who Owns the Glory | |||||||||||||||
The Arab Kingdom of Syria at its greatest extent in January 1920 | |||||||||||||||
| Capital | Damascus 33°30′47″N 36°17′31″E | ||||||||||||||
| Common languages | Arabic | ||||||||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Syrian | ||||||||||||||
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy | ||||||||||||||
| King | |||||||||||||||
• 1920 | Faisal I | ||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||||||||
• 1920 (first) | Rida Pasha al-Rikabi | ||||||||||||||
• 1920 (last) | Hashim al-Atassi | ||||||||||||||
| Legislature | National Congress | ||||||||||||||
| Historical era | Interwar period | ||||||||||||||
• British withdrawal | 26 November 1919 | ||||||||||||||
• Coronation of Faisal I | 8 March 1920 | ||||||||||||||
| 24 July 1920 | |||||||||||||||
| 25 July 1920 | |||||||||||||||
| Currency | Syrian pound | ||||||||||||||
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As a Kingdom it existed only a little over four months, from 8 March to 25 July 1920. During its brief existence, the kingdom was led by Sharif Hussein bin Ali's son Faisal bin Hussein. Despite its claims to the territory of the Levant, Faisal's government controlled a limited area and was dependent on Britain which, along with France, generally opposed the idea of a Greater Syria and refused to recognize the kingdom. The kingdom surrendered to French forces on 25 July 1920.