Talal of Jordan

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King Talal I
King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Image:Kingtalal.jpg
Reign July 20, 1951 abdicated August 11, 1952
Born February 26, 1909(1909-02-26)
Died July 7, 1972 (aged 63)
Predecessor King Abdullah I
Heir-Apparent Hussein of Jordan
Successor Hussein of Jordan
Consort Queen Zein
Issue King Hussein, Prince Muhammad, Prince Hassan, Princess Basma
Royal House Hashemite
Father King Abdullah I
Mother Musbah bint Nasser


Talal I bin Abdullah, King of Jordan (Arabic: طلال بن عبد الله Ṭalāl ibn `Abd Allāh) born February 26, 1909 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and died July 7, 1972 was King of Jordan from July 20, 1951 until forced to abdicate due to health reasons (he suffered from schizophrenia[1]) on August 11, 1952.

[edit] Life

He attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from which he graduated in 1939. Talal had ascended the Jordanian throne after the assassination in Jerusalem of his father Abdullah I. His son, Hussein, who was accompanying his grandfather at Friday prayers was also a near victim.

During his short reign he was responsible for the formation of a liberalized constitution for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which made the government collectively, and the ministers individually, responsible before the Jordanian Parliament. The constitution was ratified on January 1, 1952. King Talal is also judged as having done much to smooth the previously strained relations between Jordan and the neighboring Arab states of Egypt and Saudi Arabia.


[edit] Marriage and Children

In 1934 King Talal married Zein al Sharaf Talal with whom she bore four sons and two daughters:

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Schizophrenia," Time Magazine, August 18, 1952
Preceded by
Abdullah I		 Hashemite King of Jordan
1951–1952		 Succeeded by
Hussein
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