TIMELINE OF THE HASHEMITE DYNASTY

The land now demarcated as Jordan has been inhabited for thousands of years, and it is the setting for much of Old Testament history. Brought under Ottoman rule in the 16th century, Jordan has been led only since the 1920s by Hashemite rulers, a family whose roots are in present-day Saudi Arabia. For almost a thousand years, the al Hashem clan had ruled the holy city of Mecca, as direct descendants of Mohammed. In 1916, Hussein ibn Ali, head of the al Hashem clan, launched the Arab revolt against the Ottoman rule and proclaimed himself “king of the Arab countries,” though the Allies only recognized him as ruler of the Hejaz, the western region of what is now Saudi Arabia. He declared himself the Caliph in 1924 but was forced to abdicate after a Wahabi invasion, led by Abdul Aziz ibn Saud. In the 1920s, Hussein’s sons Faisal and Abdullah became rulers of Iraq and Transjordan respectively. Hashemite rule ended in Iraq with a coup in 1958. – Jonah Owen Lamb, Editorial Intern 1916 Hussein ibn Ali leads Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire. Part of the Central Powers, the Ottoman Empire is defeated in World War I. 1920 Conference of San Remo creates British mandate of Palestine and French mandate of Syria. By 1922 the British agree to recognize Abdullah, Hussein's second son, as ruler of Transjordan. Hussein's eldest son, Faisal, is installed as King of Iraq in 1921. Transjordan becomes autonomous Emirate under British mandate. 1946 After fighting alongside Britain in World War II, Jordan gains independence under King Abdullah I. 1948 Jordan occupies West Bank as result of the Palestine war and gains population of 400,000 Palestinians and large refugee population. Jordan joins Arab League. 1949 Name of the state changes to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The following year, parliament officially unites the West Bank and Jordan. 1951 A young Palestinian frustrated with Abdullah's hostility toward Palestinian nationalism assassinates the king. Abdullah's son is declared mentally unfit to rule; his grandson Hussein ibn Talal is crowned king in 1953. 1957 Members of the National Guard, drawn mainly from the West Bank, attempt a coup; after putting down the coup, King Hussein bans political parties. 1958 After a coup in Iraq overthrows Hussein's cousin, Hussein invites British troops to help protect Jordan. U.S. begins supplying $100 million in aid annually beginning in early 1960s. 1967 In June, Jordan joins Egypt and Syria in the third Arab-Israeli war. Defeated by Israeli troops, Jordan loses the West Bank and one-third of its fertile land; gains 200,000 new refugees. 1970 A Marxist Palestinian group hijacks four airliners and destroys three of them in the Jordanian desert. Hussein declares martial law; civil war ensues, Syria invades Jordan, and Hussein asks for help from U.S. and Britain. The PLO is expelled from Jordan by 1971. 1973 Egypt and Syria attack Israel in October. In peace negotiations, Jordan demands but does not get return of West Bank and East Jerusalem from Israel. Following year, Jordan recognizes PLO as "sole legitimate representative" of Palestinian people. 1987 Hussein and Shimon Peres, Israel's foreign minister, agree to UN-sponsored conference to seek comprehensive peace. But in December Palestinians in the West Bank launch the intifada, an uprising against both Israeli and Jordanian rule. In 1988, Jordan renounces its claims to the West Bank. 1989 Jordan holds parliamentary elections for first time in 22 years. Opposition groups gain more seats than pro-government candidates. 1991 Because of economic ties and dependence on Iraq for oil, Jordan offers ostensible support to Iraq in first Gulf War. The rift with the West is ended within a couple years. 1993 With political parties again legalized in 1992, Jordan holds first general election since 1953; loyalists gain a clear victory. 1994 Jordan is second Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel after its recognition of the PLO. Many in Palestine and the Arab world condemn this treaty. 1999 King Hussein dies and his son Abdullah ibn Hussein is crowned King of Jordan. Close This Window