Hussein ibn Ali (1856–1931)

King of the Hejaz 1916–24 and founder of the modern Hashemite dynasty. Emir (grand sherif) of the Muslim holy city of Mecca 1908–16, at the start of World War I he sided with the Turks and Germany. However, T E Lawrence persuaded him, in 1916, to join an Arab Revolt against Turkish rule, when he was proclaimed the independent King of the Hejaz region of Arabia. In 1919 he proclaimed himself king of all the Arab countries. This led to conflict with Ibn Saud of the neighbouring emirate of Nejd. Hussein accepted the caliphate in 1924, but was forced to abdicate in 1924 by Ibn Saud. He took refuge in Cyprus and died in Amman, Jordan.

One of his sons, Ali ibn Hussein, succeeded him as ruler, but was deposed within a year by Ibn Saud, who proclaimed himself king of Hejaz. Another son, Abdullah ibn Hussein, became king of Jordan, while another, Faisal I, became king of Iraq. Hussein was the great-grandfather of King Hussein ibn Talal of Jordan.