Cyrenaique

Last modified: 2000-10-07 by phil nelson
Keywords: libya | cyrenaique | cyrenaica | cirenaica | barqah |
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by Ivan Sache

• Cyrenaique
• 1947 flag of Cyrenaique
• Another Cyrenaique flag

• Libya

Cyrenaique is the Frnech name for what is called Cyrenaica in English and Cirenaica in Italian. The Arab name is Barqah. The main city is Bengazi.
Willem von Erpecom, 23 August 2000

After the decree establishing the autonomy of Cyrenaique on 31 October 1919, the Italians granted Idriss el Senoussi as Emir on 25 October 1919, but with authority only on the regions of Koufrah, Djarabouh, Audjila and Djalo, with Adjedabia (Agedabia) as the capital. The text of the treaty states that the Emir was allowed to hoist his flag along with the Italian one, but does not describe the flag. The Senoussis used mostly black or white flags ornated with Quran verses. The flags had sometimes a coloured border.

The treaty was denounced by the Italians in 1920.

After the Italian defeat of 1943 and the French-British occupation of Libya, Italy abandoned the control of Libya by the treaty of Paris (10 February 1947). Emir Idriss proclamed the independence of Cyrenaique on 1st March 1949, and was granted as Emir by the Allied in June. On 24 December 1951, Libya became finally an independent kingdom, as the federation of Tripolitania, Cyrenaique and Fezzan. The federal system was abolished on 27 April 1963.

The 1947 flag is a black field with crescent and star. It might have been the 1919 flag but there is no historical evidence for that.

Source: Franciae Vexilla, March 1999, article by M. Corbic.
Ivan Sache, 31 March 1999

by Ivan Sache

Concerning Cyrenaique, L. Philippe reports (Franciae Vexilla #15/61, September 1999) that a post stamp released in 1956 to commemorate the 100th aniversary of the death of imam Muhammad Said ben Ali el Senussi shows a flag similar to above, but with a white border all around the flag.

This imam founded in 1837 the moslim brotherhood of Senussis which fought against Italy from 1919-1920 until its dissolution in 1930. King Idris I (1890-1983) became leader of the brotherhood in 1917 [a rather young leader], and was king of the Libyan Federation until overthrown by Qaddafi in 1969 [and reached the respectable age of 93 years despite a rather agitated life.].
Ivan Sache, 08 October 1999