Ben talal. Hussein Ben Talal (1935-1998)

$ 21 billion Prince Al-Walid bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud Prince Al-Walid bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud The wealth of the ruling Saudi dynasty is not usually associated with business acumen, financial luck, or hard work. The only exception is the multi-billion dollar

His Majesty King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein bin Talal is the eldest son of King Hussein and Queen Muna. Born January 30, 1962 in Amman. Graduate of the famous British Military Academy Sandhurst. Since 1994 - Commander of the Special Forces. In 1998 he was awarded the military rank of Lieutenant General. On January 25, 1999, he was proclaimed Crown Prince, and on February 7, 1999 - King of Jordan.

The death of King Hussein in 1999 undoubtedly shocked all of Jordan. This man was prayed for in the country, he was worshiped. He ascended the royal throne on August 11, 1952 and ruled for almost 47 years! Over the years, both in the Kremlin and in the White House, several government eras have changed. And in a small Middle Eastern state-kingdom, one man ruled, who for almost half a century was a conciliator, a pacifier in the Arab world. It was he who decided to take a desperate step to make his state a mediator between the irreconcilable world of Islam and the West. Hussein was seen off on his last journey not only by his subjects, but also by distinguished guests from all over the world, including the President of the United States and his three predecessors, as well as Russian President Boris Yeltsin. King Hussein, this truly legendary man of his time, was to be replaced by Prince Abdullah.

King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein had a difficult and at the same time honorable mission to become not only the successor to the throne, but the continuer of his father's work. King Abdullah II Ben Al-Hussein overcame the difficult path of "preparing the monarch" intended for the offspring of almost every royal family. Having received his initial education at his native metropolitan Islamic Science College, the future king completed a full course of study at a number of educational institutions in England and the United States, among which Oxford University can be distinguished, as well as the diplomatic school at Georgetown University in Washington.

During the preparation of the heir, much attention was paid to military education. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Military Training in Sandhurst, a kind of cadet corps that trains future kings, emirs and sultans, which his father also graduated three decades earlier. However, it should be said that, despite the significant privilege of this military educational institution, absolutely no discounts are made there for royal origin, and the crown princes experience from personal experience all the delights of military training along with other not so noble students of the academy. Then Prince Abdullah had to serve in the British army, and in the armed forces of his native Jordan, and even in one of the units of the Russian Airborne Forces. The desire to master various military equipment, characteristic of all members of the famous Hashemite family, is fully characteristic of King Abdullah II - he served in the airborne and armored units of the Jordanian army, also learned the art of piloting combat aircraft and has the military qualifications of a fighter pilot.

By the way, contrary to the widespread beliefs about the incredible luxury of the life of Eastern rulers, the Hashemites have always shocked with their simplicity. The main palace complex in the capital - Amman, for example, does not in the least resemble palaces from the famous oriental tales. In the royal palace, the furnishings and interiors are simple and rational. The difference between the capital of Jordan and other republican capitals of the rich Arab world is that the streets and avenues of Amman are not decorated with numerous portraits of the king, and at the same time he traditionally enjoys indisputable respect of his subjects.

The main distinguishing feature of King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein bin Talal is his passion, confirmed by knowledge, for everything related to the army and, in particular, weapons. It is the king who decides on the supply of certain types of weapons, and only he decides what needs to be developed, and when drawing up an order, he personally indicates the requirements for the future armament of his army.

He was a true Eastern ruler and at the same time a Western man to the core, educated in Britain, a lover of discos and French wines. He was desperately brave and cold-blooded in times of danger. Suffice it to recall that he was attempted more than twenty times. In 1953, the Syrians tried to shoot down his plane. In 1960, a bomb intended for him killed the prime minister. Poisoned food was slipped into him, acid in a bottle with nasal drops. During the years of his reign, Hussein avoided death so many times that he is justifiably called the "king of seven lives." A personal cook bribed by enemies tried to poison him, hired killers shot at him several times, coups and conspiracies against the king succeeded each other, always ending equally unsuccessfully. Perhaps the most exotic assassination attempt was the attack by the Syrian army's MiG fighters on the plane, the king was at the helm.
And he survived the very first assassination attempt at the age of 16, as a student at Cairo University and captain of the Arab Legion. It happened on July 20, 1951, Friday, the holy day of Muslims, which became one of the most tragic days in the history of Jordan. Hussein accompanied his grandfather King Abdullah to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem (then it was the territory of Jordan). Suddenly appearing next to the king and the crown prince, the Palestinian drew a pistol and shot first in the head of King Abdullah, and then in the chest of the young Prince Hussein. The bullet hit the medal recently awarded to Hussein (he wore it under his uniform) and bounced back. All attempts and not to list ...

He was also superman. He was a great shooter, excellent sailor, excellent control of a fighter jet, a passenger liner, a car, a yacht and something else ... His height was 155 cm! Small spool but precious.

Besides, he knew the value of the gesture. Once, in the late 1960s, faced with the Israelis in one of the nightclubs in Paris, he left them his autograph on ... a bottle of "martini".

It is quite remarkable that the Jordanian monarch called one of his books "My profession is a king." He had every reason for such a name. After all, no Arab leader has retained the reins of power as long as he has. And his life was much richer in dramatic events than the life of any other head of state. Successfully ruled the country for over 46 years. Known in Jordan as the "Human King".

As for the achievements of King Hussein at the level of an ordinary citizen, the numbers speak for themselves. Whereas in 1950 only 10% of Jordanians had water, sewerage and electricity, today 99% of the population has it all. In 1960, only 33% of Jordanians were literate, while by 1996, 85.5% could read and write. In 1961, the average Jordanian consumed 2,198 calories per day. By 1992, that figure had grown by 37.5% to 3,022 calories. UNICEF statistics show that from 1981 to 1991. Jordan has achieved the world's highest rate of decline in child mortality. At the beginning of this period there were 70 deaths per 1000 births, at the end - 37 deaths per 1000 births, i.e. in 10 years, child mortality fell by 47%. King Hussein was always convinced that the people of Jordan were their main wealth, and called on everyone, including those who could not find themselves in life, became disabled or lost their parents, to achieve more for themselves and for the country.

A soldier and a politician, an aristocrat and a man of amazing modesty, who equally easily wore a tuxedo and a khaki shirt, he was a king for all tastes and all passions. His life has served as the subject of several books, including those written by himself. He was fond of motor sports, piloting airplanes and racing cars, water sports, skiing, tennis. He was known to radio amateurs all over the world by his callsign "JY1".

Adhering to a balanced course in foreign policy, Malik (King) Hussein is rightfully promoted to one of the most experienced and influential leaders in the Middle East. "The King of Jordan is a world-class statesman," Margaret Thatcher said about him. During his lifetime, the late Moroccan monarch Hassan II expressed admiration for Hussein's self-sacrifice in the name of his people and for the fact that he "never betrayed his principles and political convictions."

Presidents François Mitterrand, Ronald Reagan, Hosni Mubarak, UN Secretary General Perez de Cuellar and many other statesmen and politicians with whom the Jordanian monarch spoke to him spoke no less flatteringly about him. At the same time, he had many opponents among the left Arab forces.

Hussein Ben Talal belonged to the Hashemite dynasty, whose representatives consider themselves to be direct descendants of the founder of Islam, Muhammad, through his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali. The great-grandfather of the future king, Hussein Ben Ali, was the sheriff (ruler) of the Hejaz and the keeper of the holy places of Muslims in Mecca and Medina. Grandfather - Abdullah Ben Hussein - the first monarch of the Emirate of Transjordan, renamed on May 25, 1946 into the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan - "a completely independent state with a hereditary monarchy."

It was the grandfather who had the greatest influence on the grandson.

I owe a lot to this man, ”King Hussein would say later. - He strove to instill in me the science of government, taught me the art of diplomacy, war and compromise. He taught me to understand the minds of people, the subtleties of the Arab world in which we lived. He constantly repeated: "The greatest duty of a leader is to serve ... Only in this case will you live in peace with yourself and God."

King Hussein 1st (his full name is Al-Hussein Ben Talal Ben Abdullah Ben Al-Hussein) is a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad in the 39th tribe. Born November 14, 1935, into the family of Crown Prince Talal.

He spent his childhood in the simple neighborhood of Jebel Amman. There, Crown Prince Talal Ben Abdullah and his wife Princess Zane al-Sharaf rented a modest villa surrounded by a small garden. In a family where money was constantly lacking, two more younger brothers, Hasan and Muhammad, and sister Basma grew up. Due to the illness of his father, the upbringing of Hussein as the heir to the throne was mostly occupied by his grandfather, King Abdullah.

1936 With his father in 1939.

1936 Mother.

With mom 1979
When it came time to go to school, King Abdullah decided that his grandson should first receive a religious education. Fulfilling the will of his grandfather, Hussein began to study classical Arabic and the Koran. Then he was sent to the prestigious Victoria College in Alexandria (Egypt), where he mastered almost perfect English.

A new world opened before me, - King Hussein later recalled. - The world that I did not know at all: football, cricket, books, communication with comrades.

King Hussein with his brothers Muhamed, Hassan and sister Basma. 1954 And with brothers in 1967.

He has a lifelong memory of the large dormitory he shared with thirty other young men, an ice cold shower in the morning, school clothes made of light woolen fabric, and a college sweatshirt. During his two years at Victoria, the future king continued his studies in Arabic and religious education, became one of the best saber fencers and even won a medal in fencing competitions. The grandfather was so happy that he awarded 16-year-old Hussein the rank of captain of the Jordanian army.

Like any schoolboy, he was looking forward to the holidays to laze around and have fun. But there was no vacation. The future monarch accompanied his grandfather everywhere, acting as a translator from English and watching how he defended the interests of the kingdom.

They had breakfast early in the morning. Breakfast consisted of Bedouin coffee with a little cardamom, or mint tea and flatbread without butter or jam. King Abdullah believed that a person works better when his stomach is half empty.

Then the working day began. Young Hussein attended the meetings, watched as his grandfather dictated his memoranda and letters. Over dinner, King Abdullah taught his grandson the duties of a monarch.

I understand now, - King Hussein admitted in an interview, - why my grandfather, as he grew older, became more and more attentive and friendly to me. This was because in his eyes I became what he wanted to see his son.

(I will note in parentheses that King Abdullah was distinguished by enviable health. He wanted his son, Crown Prince Talal, to be "a valiant and indefatigable Bedouin." But he was seriously ill ...)

This is how during the holidays the future monarch studied the profession of the king under the strict but benevolent supervision of his grandfather. This kind of "internship" lasted until June 20, 1951. On that day, King Abdullah was killed at the entrance to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem by a militant of the Palestinian nationalist organization Al-Jihad al-Muqaddas (Holy War). Hussein, who was nearby, miraculously escaped death: the second bullet hit the medal on his uniform, worn at the insistence of his grandfather. It was the first brutal lesson in violence he remembered all his life.

Curiously, three days before leaving for Jerusalem, King Abdullah said to his grandson:

I want you to know that one day you will have to take on a tremendous responsibility. I rely on you that you will do even the impossible so that my efforts are not in vain. I rely on you to continue serving our people.

The eldest son of Abdullah, Talal (Hussein's father), who was crowned on September 6, 1951, became the new king of Jordan. And Hussein himself is the crown prince.

From that day on, his carefree school life was cut short. Having become the heir to the throne, he was forced to stay in Jordan (his father was undergoing medical treatment in Europe at that time) to represent the royal house. Even then, his grandfather's lessons were very useful to him ...

Soon King Talal Ben Abdullah returned to Amman. Hussein traveled to England to continue his education at Harrow's privileged military college.

How great the difference was between Harrow and Victoria College! - later recalled King Hussein. - I had to learn everything anew and felt like a "rookie". But I lived the life of an independent man.

He had a small room with a bed, table, chair, and wardrobe. On the floor was a small carpet that he had brought from Jordan.

Every morning the future monarch woke up at seven o'clock, did exercises, took a cold shower. I cleaned the room myself, I cleaned my shoes myself. I ironed my trousers myself, folding them under the mattress overnight. He learned to dance foxtrot, waltz, and South American dances. He played well in rugby, and won a medal in the obstacle course.

With father King Talal.

There, in Harrow, he developed a passion (it lasted until the end of his life) for high speeds. This happened after a family friend gave him a sky blue Rover, his first car. Later, as king, he took part in mountain rallies, kart races and motorcycles.

One day, he personally landed a plane in thick fog, which the crew of the British Prime Minister had not been able to overcome a few hours earlier.

The Crown Prince's life in Harrow was not limited to driving. For months he received visitors, most of whom were diplomats. It was visited by members of the Jordanian government when they came to England. He was aware of the smallest details regarding his father's health.

All the time I had a premonition, - he will write later, - that serious reasons would force me to return to my country sooner than could be expected.

Indeed, studies had to be interrupted again. This happened on August 12, 1952, when Hussein was spending his holidays in Lausanne (Switzerland) on the shores of Lake Leman. At nine in the morning there was a knock on the door and a servant handed him an envelope on a silver tray. “To His Majesty King Hussein,” the caption read. Sighing, he opened the envelope ...

From the letter, he learned that on August 11, 1952, at a secret meeting that lasted ten hours, the parliament accepted Talal's abdication (he could not fulfill his duties for health reasons) and proclaimed Hussein king of Jordan. The new monarch put the envelope in his pocket, sat down at the table and wrote a letter to Prime Minister Tawfiq Abul Khuda, in which he said that he would "immediately return to Jordan" and would be happy "to have the honor of serving the country and the Arab cause."

A few days later, the 17-year-old king arrived in Amman. Crowds of people stood along the streets along which the motorcade rode and shouted: "Long live Hussein!" Since he did not come of age, the country was ruled by a regency council.

His Majesty King Hussein accompanied prime Minister of Jordan Tawfiq Abu-l-Khuda, parading to the coronation ceremony 11august 1952. In the last photo and Prince Mohamed.

To better get acquainted with the state of affairs of the state, Hussein made a three-week trip around the country, during which he visited the most important cities and villages, met with thousands of Jordanians, and listened carefully to their complaints and advice. I traveled either by plane or by car to the most remote corners. In the desert among the Bedouins, he participated in an Arab festival, danced with them around the fire. "If there are such people in Jordan," the king thought then, "the country will live well."

King Hussein. 1953

Nevertheless, he increasingly asked himself the questions: "Am I ready to rule the country? What else should be done in order to prepare myself for the day when I will turn 18, and I will have to take over the government?"

Knowing that he will simultaneously be the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Jordan, King Hussein decided to graduate from the English Academy Sandhurst, where his father had once studied. It was he who once said to his son: "A man can learn to lead others only if he first disciplines himself."

Young Hussein, while enrolling at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, c. 1952 g.

On September 19, 1952, Hussein temporarily changed his title of king to the title of a student at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He was seconded to Inkermann's company, Old College, and took up residence in Room 109.

On the very first day he was received by the head of the academy and immediately announced that life at Sandhurst was "difficult and tiring, which requires a huge reserve of strength and self-control."

The king chose the most difficult option - a special program designed for six months, because he wanted to get the maximum benefit from his studies. This program made him work hard, make more marches, more often participate in maneuvers, in night hikes. He learned how to handle modern weapons, made every effort to understand the main thing in military science.

At Sandhurst, the young king did not enjoy any privileges. According to the recollections of fellow students, officers and sergeants referred to him as "sir" and not "Your Majesty." And they drilled him just like the rest of the cadets.

Once the chief foreman of the academy saw Hussein, instead of sitting at a lecture, walking with two guests in military uniform, and forced all three to march along the parade ground. The guests - the Jordanian prime minister and the chief of the general staff - obeyed the order meekly.

And Sergeant Victor King, who taught drill training, began his acquaintance with cadet Hussein with the following phrase:

- There are two kings on this parade ground. Me and you, sir. I hope you understand who is in charge here?

It should be noted that the young Jordanian monarch was not only an eminently capable cadet. He was the soul of society ...

On May 2, 1953, the regency council that ruled the country ceased to be in force. From that day on, King Hussein became the sovereign ruler of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

But first, the monarch took an oath in parliament, which began with the words: "I swear by Allah that I will respect the Constitution and be faithful to the people ..." After that, 101 volleys were fired from guns, announcing to the people about Hussein's accession to the throne. Then he went to the mosque for a prayer service, visited the tomb of his grandfather, over which he read a surah from the Koran for the repose of his soul.

At the end of the day, King Hussein paid a visit to his mother. After kissing him, she said:

You must not let the power turn your head. The people of Jordan have expressed their devotion, love and faith to you. May Allah direct your steps on the right path.

Germany 1978

Having ascended the throne, King Hussein from the first steps was oriented towards the West. And this is not surprising: having received his education at Harrow and Sandhurst, he absorbed the system of Western values, which he preferred until the last days.

Nevertheless, the Jordanian monarch, by his own admission, believed that the forms of the bourgeois-democratic state system were completely unsuitable for the Arab world. Therefore, he has always remained a supporter of authoritarian rule.

It should be emphasized that one of the main internal contradictions of King Hussein as a political and statesman stemmed from the Western worldview he acquired during his studies in England, on the one hand, and his belonging to the most prominent Arab dynasty, on the other. Leading a Western lifestyle on a personal level, he at the same time had to demonstrate adherence to Islam, observe its ritual side, and prove that he upholds the principles of Arab nationalism.

Having gone through a difficult school of struggle for the establishment of authoritarian power, King Hussein, being an experienced tactician, always relied on strengthening his country. For Jordan, which historically was weaker than its neighbors and did not exist a day without subsidies from the West, in practical terms this was expressed in the search for a strong and reliable ally.

King Hussein and Yitzhak Rabin (Israel) in royal residence in Aqaba, shortly after signing peace treaty about border crossing.

In the Arab world, Iraq has been such an ally for a long time. Realizing, however, that support from only one state cannot guarantee sufficient stability, King Hussein was constantly looking for new footholds. In 1985, for example, he made peace with Syrian President Hafez Assad. Then he was one of the first among Arab leaders to restore diplomatic relations with Egypt and, finally, took on the difficult role of mediator in resolving the Syrian-Iraqi differences.

By the way, the favorite forms of the king's political activity, according to Jordanian journalists, were mediation (especially secret), the creation of coalitions and alliances. In the last years of his life, this inclination was fueled in him by the consciousness that Jordan itself had become small for his figure. He suddenly came to the conclusion that by seniority in power he could play a leading role, both in the Arab and in the Islamic world. It is said that in a narrow circle, King Hussein indulged in statements that his dynasty has more historical rights to the Saudi throne than the Saudis themselves.

Leia Rabin and king Hussein of Jordan greet each other at the terminalArava

Hussein considered the United States of America to be the main guarantor of the kingdom's existence. He proceeded from the premise that the degree of mutual understanding and cooperation with the Americans should always be high enough to prevent a possible aggression against Jordan by Israel. Nevertheless, he did not support the United States' desire to deploy nuclear weapons in space, and strongly condemned the active involvement of Tel Aviv in the implementation of the "strategic defense initiative" program.

Despite his pro-Western orientation, King Hussein advocated the development of cooperation with the Soviet Union (diplomatic relations were established on August 20, 1963) and other socialist countries. The first official visit of the Jordanian monarch to the USSR took place in October 1967. While in Moscow, he expressed "deep gratitude to the people and government of the Soviet Union for the sincere and valuable assistance that the USSR has rendered to the Arab states that have become victims of Israeli aggression." This was followed by several more visits, which played a significant role in the development and strengthening of bilateral relations.

Tribal leaders welcome king Hussein. With Yasser Arafat.

Not recognizing the possibility of transferring the socialist experience to Arab soil, the king, nevertheless, treated the Soviet worldview with great understanding, recognized some positive aspects of socialist reality, especially in the foreign policy of the USSR. So, for example, Soviet initiatives on disarmament issues, preventing the militarization of outer space, calls for the establishment of universal security, the implementation of the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a nuclear-free world aroused increased interest of the Jordanian monarch.

Disarmament, he stressed more than once, should be the number one issue for every state, every organization, every individual.

The relationship between the King of Jordan and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and its leader Yasser Arafat developed in a complicated and zigzag manner. Let me remind you that during the "six-day war" in June 1967, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled from their lands, and King Hussein offered them his country as a refuge. Today they make up about 60 percent of Jordan's nearly 4 million population.

Dressed Desert police uniform, King Hussein shakes hands with Bedouin sheikhs ... And talks to Bedouin women.

In 1970, violent clashes broke out in Amman between the Palestinians and the Jordanian army. King Hussein personally led the operation. As a result, the armed presence of Palestinians in the kingdom was eliminated.

Hussein and Arafat soon reconciled. Still later, the monarch allowed the PLO to open offices in the Jordanian capital and signed an agreement with the Palestinian leader on joint action to return Israeli-occupied lands.

However, some time later, the king suddenly came to the conclusion that the head of the PLO would never accept the conditions necessary to convene a peace conference on the Middle East. So he again disowned Arafat and closed most of the PLO missions in Amman. But the Palestinian factor has always remained one of the central, both in the domestic and foreign policy of the Jordanian monarch.

US President Jimmy Carter, King Hussein, Shah of Iran Pahlavi and Shahine Farah.

Sharm El Sheikh.

In February 1985, King Hussein re-negotiated an agreement with the PLO leader. It provided for the formation of a joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation at international negotiations on a Middle East settlement, as well as the creation of a confederation within Jordan and Palestine. The monarch understood that due to the high "density" of Palestinians in Jordan and the special relationship with the West Bank of the Jordan River, which was seized by Israel in June 1967, he was not in a position to conduct direct negotiations with Tel Aviv without Palestinian participation.

If this problem only concerned Jordan, he invariably stressed, we could deal directly with Israel.

A year later, however, the PLO terminated the agreement. But even after a new break with Arafat, King Hussein continued to be respected by many leaders of Palestinian organizations.

It should be emphasized that King Hussein was more active than other Arab leaders in advocating for the convening of an international conference on the Middle East. He insisted that all the Arab countries involved in the conflict, Israel and the PLO, as well as the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, participate in it.

However, in 1988, King Hussein unexpectedly changed the rules for the peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict. He suddenly made a decision to terminate Jordan's legal and administrative ties with the West Bank.

“Now,” he said, “the occupied territories are given under the full responsibility of the PLO.


Handshake at the conclusion of the Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty. 1994. Bill Clinton, Yitzhak Rabin, and King Hussein of Jordan I.

With this decision, King Hussein placed the main burden of the peace negotiations on the shoulders of the Palestinian leaders. But by the same decision, he again confirmed that he considers the PLO as the only legitimate representative of the Arab people of Palestine.

From the first days of his reign, the king, like any other servant, went to his office in the Basman Palace and left it only after the completion of the work. His working day, as a rule, began at 8-30 am and rarely ended at 8 pm.

Recalling the beginning of his career, the monarch later admitted that he "experienced great difficulties in terms of rapprochement with the Jordanian people and understanding their aspirations."

How can I be a good, kind and exemplary king, Hussein asked himself - if I do not know for certain my subjects?

Mom, Princess Basma, king and brother Hassan. With Prince Ali.

With Prince Abdullah.

A family. Prince Hamza told his father a secret.

With Queen Noor.
To answer this question and see with his own eyes the life of ordinary people, he tried to meet with them. Especially with those who have lived in the desert, where deep Bedouin traditions rest on three principles: honor, courage and hospitality.

At the same time, King Hussein understood that the Bedouins are only a part of the Jordanian people. And he wanted to know what his subjects "breathe" in cities and villages, what they think of him and the government. To find out, he changed into a taxi driver and drove in the evenings in an old Ford into the streets of the Jordanian capital.

This night work opened my eyes to a lot, - the monarch later said. - After all, passengers speak as if the driver is not behind the wheel.

One day, to get a Bedouin passenger to talk, he asked him:

- Is the harvest good this year?

- The harvest is beautiful, thanks to Allah and the king.

After Allah, he is our great leader and mentor. He protects us, provides any help that we need. We love him very much.

“And I’m not at all sure what you’re talking about ...” King Hussein encouraged the passenger.

The Bedouin got angry and shouted with flashing eyes:

“If you dare to say it one more time, I’ll beat you.

The king made such trips many times ... Returning in the morning to his residence, he gave the guards all the money he earned.

Gala dinner at the Shah's. 1967

King Hussein, A.N. Kosygin and A.A. Gromyko. 1967

It was at this time that Hussein decided to learn how to fly an airplane. Obviously, a long-standing passion for high speeds affected. However, the young monarch's intention to learn to fly was met with strong opposition from the royal family and government. But he was firm in his decision and began to take lessons from the commander of the Jordanian Air Force, Colonel Eugene Dalgleish.

He, however, went to the trick. To discourage the monarch from flying, at the very first lesson he lifted him into the air on a small Oster-class aircraft and performed aerobatics for half an hour. But young Hussein showed willpower by scheduling a second lesson the next day. Until the end of his life, the Jordanian king flew more than one thousand hours, mastered all types of aircraft and helicopters in service with the Royal Air Force, as well as passenger airliners, including the Boeing 747. By the way, once it saved his life.

But airplanes were not the only hobby of the late monarch. He was fond of radio business, diving, photography, tennis, water and alpine skiing. He had another passion - fishing. Here he excelled: in the fishing competition in the Red Sea he won a prize.

And yet the main thing for him was always state affairs.

According to my Jordanian colleagues, King Hussein ruled the country as "a strict father who does not tolerate open disagreement." Political parties are prohibited by law in Jordan. True, the monarch considered it possible to allow limited activities of Islamic fundamentalists, who in some countries, as you know, play mainly a corrupting role.

However, in 1985 he demonstrated that there is a limit to how far fundamentalists can go. He called on the legislature to pass a decree prohibiting the clergy from "uncontrolled, excessive preaching."

The Israeli media have repeatedly noted that the "little king" (as they called him for his small stature and for the size of the kingdom), "has always been the favorite of the Israelis." In their opinion, he was smart, cunning and strong. I could cry with joy, I was sincere in grief, cruel with enemies and generous with friends.

The Israeli public pitied him when he got involved in the war with Israel in solidarity with the Arabs. And I tried to understand when he supported Saddam Hussein in 1991 during the Gulf War.

Many people still believe that the Jordanian king was always late. Go to war, make peace. So the Nobel Prize went not to him, but to Yasser Arafat. Although it was he who did much more than other Arab leaders in order for the Israelis to believe that peace with the Arabs is possible.

(To be continued)

King Hussein of Jordan went to meet with Allah on February 7, 1999 at 11:43 a.m. at the age of 64. A courageous and wise man died, who for almost half a century was the personification of his country and his people. The true king died, communication with whom made everyone a little monarchist.

THEIR PROFESSION IS KINGS

He was a true Eastern ruler and, at the same time, a Western man to the core, educated in Britain, a lover of discos and French wines. He was desperately brave and cold-blooded in times of danger. Suffice it to recall that he was attempted more than twenty times. In 1953, the Syrians tried to shoot down his plane. In 1960, a bomb intended for him killed the prime minister. Poisoned food was slipped into him, acid in a bottle with nasal drops. All attempts and not to list ...

He was also superman. He was a great shooter, excellent sailor, excellent control of a fighter jet, a passenger liner, a car, a yacht and something else ...

Besides, he knew the value of the gesture. Once, in the late 1960s, faced with the Israelis in a nightlife bar in Paris, he left them his autograph on ... a bottle of "martini".

It is quite remarkable that the Jordanian monarch called one of his books - "My profession is a king". For such a name he had every reason. After all, no Arab leader has retained the reins of power as long as he has. And his life was much richer in dramatic events than life

the knowledge of any other head of state.

A soldier and a politician, an aristocrat and a man of amazing modesty, who equally easily wore a tuxedo and a khaki shirt, he was a king for all tastes and all passions.

Adhering to a balanced course in foreign policy, Malik (King) Hussein is rightfully promoted to one of the most experienced and influential leaders in the Middle East. "The King of Jordan is a world-class statesman," Margaret Thatcher said about him. During his lifetime, the late Moroccan monarch Hassan II expressed admiration for "Hussein's self-sacrifice in the name of his people" and that he "never betrayed his principles and political convictions."

Presidents François Mitterrand, Ronald Reagan, Hosni Mubarak, UN Secretary General Perez de Cuellar and many other statesmen and political figures with whom the Jordanian monarch spoke to him spoke no less flatteringly about him. At the same time, he had many opponents among the left Arab forces.

HUSSEIN - GRANDSON OF ABDALLA

Hussein bin Talal belonged to the Hashemite dynasty, whose representatives consider themselves direct descendants of the founder of Islam Muhamm

food on the line of his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali. The great-grandfather of the future king, Hussein Ben Ali, was the sheriff (ruler) of the Hejaz and the keeper of the holy places of Muslims in Mecca and Medina. Grandfather - Abdullah Ben Hussein - the first monarch of the Emirate of Transjordan, renamed on May 25, 1946 into the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan - "a completely independent state with a hereditary monarchy."

It was the grandfather who had the greatest influence on the grandson.

I owe a lot to this man, ”King Hussein would say later. - He strove to instill in me the science of government, taught me the art of diplomacy, war and compromise. He taught me to understand the minds of people, the subtleties of the Arab world in which we lived. He constantly repeated: "The greatest duty of a leader is to serve ... Only in this case will you live in peace with yourself and God."

King Hussein 1st (his full name is Al-Hussein Ben Talal Ben Abdullah Ben Al-Hussein) is a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad in the 39th tribe. Born November 14, 1935. He spent his childhood in the simple neighborhood of Jebel Amman. There, Crown Prince Talal Ben Abdullah and his wife Princess Zane al-Sharaf rented a modest villa surrounded by a small garden. In a family where d

there was a constant lack of money, two more younger brothers, Khasan and Mohammed, and sister Basma were growing up.

When it came time to go to school, King Abdullah decided that his grandson should first receive a religious education. Fulfilling the will of his grandfather, Hussein began to study classical Arabic and the Koran. Then he was sent to the prestigious Victoria College in Alexandria (Egypt), where he mastered almost perfect English.

A new world opened before me, - King Hussein later recalled. - The world that I did not know at all: football, cricket, books, communication with comrades.

He has a lifelong memory of the large dormitory he shared with thirty other young men, an ice cold shower in the morning, school clothes made of light woolen fabric, and a college sweatshirt. During his two years at Victoria, the future king continued his studies in Arabic and religious education, became one of the best saber fencers and even won a medal in fencing competitions. His grandfather was so happy that he awarded 16-year-old Hussein the rank of captain of the Jordanian army.

Like any schoolboy, he was looking forward to the vacation to laze and entertain

be. But there was no vacation. The future monarch accompanied his grandfather everywhere, acting as a translator from English and watching how he defended the interests of the kingdom.

They had breakfast early in the morning. Breakfast consisted of Bedouin coffee with a little cardamom, or mint tea and flatbread without butter or jam. King Abdullah believed that a person works best when his stomach is half empty.

Then the working day began. Young Hussein attended the meetings, watched as his grandfather dictated his memoranda and letters. Over dinner, King Abdullah taught his grandson the duties of a monarch.

I understand now, - King Hussein admitted in an interview, - why my grandfather, as he grew older, became more attentive and friendly to me. This was because in his eyes I became what he wanted to see his son.

(I will note in parentheses that King Abdullah was distinguished by enviable health. He wanted his son, Crown Prince Talal, to be "a valiant and indefatigable Bedouin." But he was seriously ill ...)

This is how during the holidays the future monarch studied the profession of the king under the strict but benevolent supervision of his grandfather. This is

his kind of "internship" lasted until June 20, 1951. On that day, King Abdullah was killed at the entrance to the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem by a militant of the Palestinian nationalist organization Al-Jihad al-Muqaddas (Holy War). Hussein, who was nearby, miraculously escaped death: the second bullet hit the medal on his uniform, worn at the insistence of his grandfather. This was the first brutal lesson in violence that he remembered all his life.

Curiously, three days before leaving for Jerusalem, King Abdullah said to his grandson:

I want you to know that one day you will have to take on a tremendous responsibility. I rely on you that you will do even the impossible so that my efforts are not in vain. I rely on you to continue serving our people.

The eldest son of Abdullah, Talal (Hussein's father), who was crowned on September 6, 1951, became the new king of Jordan. And Hussein himself is the crown prince.

Goodbye to childhood

From that day on, his carefree school life was cut short. Having become the heir to the throne, he was forced to stay in Jordan (his father was undergoing medical treatment in Europe at that time) to represent the royal house. Already

his grandfather's lessons came in handy ...

Soon King Talal Ben Abdullah returned to Amman. Hussein traveled to England to continue his education at Harrow's privileged military college.

How great the difference was between Harrow and Victoria College! - later recalled King Hussein. - I had to learn everything anew and felt like a "rookie". But I lived the life of an independent man.

He had a small room with a bed, table, chair, and wardrobe. On the floor was a small carpet that he had brought from Jordan.

Every morning the future monarch woke up at seven o'clock, did exercises, took a cold shower. I cleaned the room myself, I cleaned my shoes myself. I ironed my trousers myself, folding them under the mattress overnight. He learned to dance the foxtrot, waltz and South American dances. He played well in rugby, and won a medal in the obstacle course.

There, in Harrow, he developed a passion (it persisted until the end of his life) for high speeds. This happened after a family friend gave him a sky blue Rover, his first car. Later, as king, he took part in the rally

and on mountain roads, in karting and motorcycle races.

The Crown Prince's life in Harrow was not limited to driving. For months he received visitors, most of whom were diplomats. It was visited by members of the Jordanian government when they came to England. He was aware of the smallest details regarding his father's health.

All the time I had a premonition, - he will write later, - that serious reasons would force me to return to my country sooner than could be expected.

Indeed, studies had to be interrupted again. This happened on August 12, 1952, when Hussein was spending his holidays in Lausanne (Switzerland) on the shores of Lake Leman. At nine in the morning there was a knock on the door and a servant handed him an envelope on a silver tray. “To His Majesty King Hussein,” the caption read. Sighing, he opened the envelope ...

From the letter, he learned that on August 11, 1952, at a secret meeting that lasted ten hours, the parliament accepted Talal's abdication (he could not fulfill his duties for health reasons) and proclaimed Hussein king of Jordan. The new monarch put the envelope in his pocket, sat down at

table and wrote a letter to Prime Minister Tawfiq Abul Khuda, in which he said that he "immediately returns to Jordan" and will be happy "to have the honor of serving the country and the Arab cause."

A few days later, the 17-year-old king arrived in Amman. Crowds of people stood along the streets along which the motorcade rode and shouted: "Long live Hussein!" Since he did not come of age, the country was ruled by a regency council.

To better get acquainted with the state of affairs of the state, Hussein made a three-week trip around the country, during which he visited the most important cities and villages, met with thousands of Jordanians, and listened carefully to their complaints and advice. I traveled either by plane or by car to the most remote corners. In the desert among the Bedouins, he participated in an Arab festival, danced with them around the fire. "If there are such people in Jordan," the king thought then, "the country will live well."

Nevertheless, he increasingly asked himself the questions: "Am I ready to rule the country? What else should be done in order to prepare myself for the day when I will turn 18, and I will have to take over the government?"

Knowing what he's about to be

at the same time and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Jordan, King Hussein decided to graduate from the English Academy Sandhurst, in which his father had once studied. It was he who once said to his son: "A man can learn to lead others only if he first disciplines himself."

On September 19, 1952, Hussein temporarily changed his title of king to the title of a student at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He was seconded to Inkermann's company, Old College, and took up residence in Room 109.

On the very first day he was received by the head of the academy and immediately announced that life in Sandhurst was "difficult and tiring, which requires a huge reserve of strength and self-control."

The king chose the most difficult option - a special program designed for six months, because he wanted to get the maximum benefit from his studies. This program made him work hard, commit

more marches, more often to participate in maneuvers, in night hikes. He learned how to handle modern weapons, made every effort to understand the main thing in military science.

At Sandhurst, the young king did not enjoy any privileges. According to the recollections of fellow students, officers and sergeants referred to him as "sir" and not "Your Majesty." And they drilled him just like the rest of the cadets.

Once the chief foreman of the academy saw Hussein, instead of sitting at a lecture, walking with two guests in military uniform, and forced all three to march along the parade ground. The guests - the Jordanian prime minister and the chief of the general staff - obeyed the order meekly.

And Sergeant Victor King, who taught drill training, began his acquaintance with cadet Hussein with the following phrase:

There are two kings on this parade ground. Me and you, sir. I hope you understand who is in charge here?

It should be noted that the young Jordanian monarch was not only an eminently capable cadet. He was the soul of society ...

BETWEEN WEST AND EAST

On May 2, 1953, the regency council that ruled the country ceased to be in force. From that day on, King Hussein became full

the powerful ruler of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

But first, the monarch took an oath in parliament, which began with the words: "I swear by Allah that I will respect the Constitution and be faithful to the people ..." After that, 101 volleys were fired from guns, announcing to the people about Hussein's accession to the throne. Then he went to the mosque for a prayer service, visited the tomb of his grandfather, over which he read a surah from the Koran for the repose of his soul.

At the end of the day, King Hussein paid a visit to his mother. After kissing him, she said:

You must not let the power turn your head. The people of Jordan have expressed their devotion, love and faith to you. May Allah direct your steps on the right path.

Having ascended the throne, King Hussein from the first steps was oriented towards the West. And this is not surprising: having received his education at Harrow and Sandhurst, he absorbed the system of Western values, which he preferred until the last days.

Nevertheless, the Jordanian monarch, by his own admission, believed that the forms of the bourgeois-democratic state system were completely unsuitable for the Arab world. Therefore, he has always remained a supporter of authoritarian rule.

It should be emphasized that one of the main internal contradictions of King Hussein as a political and statesman stemmed from the Western worldview he acquired during his studies in England, on the one hand, and his belonging to the most prominent Arab dynasty, on the other. Leading a Western lifestyle on a personal level, he at the same time had to demonstrate adherence to Islam, observe its ritual side, and prove that he upholds the principles of Arab nationalism.

Having gone through a difficult school of struggle for the establishment of authoritarian power, King Hussein, being an experienced tactician, always relied on strengthening his country. For Jordan, which historically was weaker than its neighbors and did not exist a day without subsidies from the West, in practical terms this was expressed in the search for a strong and reliable ally.

In the Arab world, Iraq has been such an ally for a long time. Realizing, however, that support from only one state cannot guarantee sufficient stability, King Hussein was constantly looking for new footholds. In 1985, for example, he made peace with Syrian President Hafez Assad. Then one of the first

and Arab leaders restored diplomatic relations with Egypt and finally took on the challenging role of mediating the Syrian-Iraqi differences.

By the way, the favorite forms of the king's political activity, according to Jordanian journalists, were mediation (especially secret), the creation of coalitions and alliances. In the last years of his life, this inclination was fueled in him by the consciousness that Jordan itself had become small for his figure. He suddenly came to the conclusion that by seniority in power he could play a leading role, both in the Arab and in the Islamic world. It is said that in a narrow circle, King Hussein indulged in statements that his dynasty has more historical rights to the Saudi throne than the Saudis themselves.

Hussein considered the United States of America to be the main guarantor of the kingdom's existence. He proceeded from the premise that the degree of mutual understanding and cooperation with the Americans should always be high enough to prevent a possible aggression against Jordan by Israel. However, he did not support the US aspiration to place nuclear weapons in space, strongly condemned the active involvement of Tel Aviv

to the implementation of the "strategic defense initiative" program.

Despite his pro-Western orientation, King Hussein advocated the development of cooperation with the Soviet Union (diplomatic relations were established on August 20, 1963) and other socialist countries. The first official visit of the Jordanian monarch to the USSR took place in October 1967. While in Moscow, he expressed "deep gratitude to the people and government of the Soviet Union for the sincere and valuable assistance that the USSR has rendered to the Arab states that have become victims of Israeli aggression." This was followed by several more visits, which played a significant role in the development and strengthening of bilateral relations.

One day, he personally landed a plane in thick fog, which the crew of the British Prime Minister had not been able to overcome a few hours earlier.

Not recognizing the possibility of transferring the socialist experience to Arab soil, the king, nevertheless, treated the Soviet worldview with great understanding, recognized some positive aspects of socialist reality, especially in the foreign policy of the USSR. For example, Soviet initiatives on the

genesis, prevention of militarization of outer space, calls for the establishment of universal security, the implementation of the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a nuclear-free world aroused increased interest of the Jordanian monarch.

Disarmament, he stressed more than once, should be the number one issue for every state, every organization, every individual.

THE PALESTINIAN FACTOR

The relationship between the King of Jordan and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and its leader Yasser Arafat developed in a complicated and zigzag manner. Let me remind you that during the "six-day war" in June 1967, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled from their lands, and King Hussein offered them his country as a refuge. Today they make up about 60 percent of Jordan's nearly 4 million population.

In 1970, violent clashes broke out in Amman between the Palestinians and the Jordanian army. King Hussein personally led the operation. As a result, the armed presence of Palestinians in the kingdom was eliminated.

Hussein and Arafat soon reconciled. Even later, the monarch allowed the PLO to open offices in the Jordanian capital and signed an agreement with the Palestinian leader on joint actions.

with the aim of returning the lands occupied by the Israelis.

However, some time later, the king suddenly came to the conclusion that the head of the PLO would never accept the conditions necessary to convene a peace conference on the Middle East. So he again disowned Arafat and closed most of the PLO missions in Amman. But the Palestinian factor has always remained one of the central, both in the domestic and foreign policy of the Jordanian monarch.

In February 1985, King Hussein re-negotiated an agreement with the PLO leader. It provided for the formation of a joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation at international negotiations on a Middle East settlement, as well as the creation of a confederation within Jordan and Palestine. The monarch understood that due to the high "density" of Palestinians in Jordan and special relations with the West Bank of the Jordan River, which was seized by Israel in June 1967, he was not in a position to conduct direct negotiations with Tel Aviv without Palestinian participation.

If this problem only concerned Jordan, he invariably stressed, we could deal directly with Israel.

A year later, however, the PLO terminated the agreement. But sales

that is, after a new break with Arafat, King Hussein continued to enjoy the respect of many leaders of Palestinian organizations.

It should be emphasized that King Hussein was more active than other Arab leaders in advocating for the convening of an international conference on the Middle East. He insisted that all the Arab countries involved in the conflict, Israel and the PLO, as well as the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, participate in it.

However, in 1988, King Hussein unexpectedly changed the rules for the peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict. He suddenly made a decision to terminate Jordan's legal and administrative ties with the West Bank.

Now, - he said, - the occupied territories are given under the full responsibility of the PLO.

With this decision, King Hussein placed the main burden of the peace negotiations on the shoulders of the Palestinian leaders. But by the same decision, he again confirmed that he considers the PLO as the only legitimate representative of the Arab people of Palestine.

THIS IS A ROYAL LIFE

From the first days of his reign, the king, like any other servant, went to his office in two

rce Basman and left it only after completion of work. His working day, as a rule, began at 8-30 am and rarely ended at 8 pm.

Recalling the beginning of his career, the monarch later admitted that he "experienced great difficulties in terms of rapprochement with the Jordanian people and understanding of their aspirations."

How can I be a good, kind and exemplary king, Hussein asked himself, if I do not know my subjects for certain?

To answer this question and see with his own eyes the life of ordinary people, he tried to meet with them. Especially with those who have lived in the desert, where deep Bedouin traditions rest on three principles: honor, courage and hospitality.

At the same time, King Hussein understood that the Bedouins are only a part of the Jordanian people. And he wanted to know what his subjects "breathe" in cities and villages, what they think of him and the government. To find out, he changed into a taxi driver and drove in the evenings in an old Ford into the streets of the Jordanian capital.

This night work opened my eyes to a lot, - the monarch later said. - After all, passengers speak as if the driver is not behind the wheel.

One day to talk

a Bedouin passenger, he asked him:

Is the harvest good this year?

The harvest is beautiful thanks to Allah and the king.

After Allah, he is our great leader and mentor. He protects us, provides any help that we need. We love him very much.

And I'm not at all sure what you are saying ... - King Hussein encouraged the passenger.

The Bedouin got angry and shouted with flashing eyes:

If you dare to say it again, then I will beat you.

The king made such trips many times ... Returning in the morning to his residence, he gave the guards all the money he earned.

It was at this time that Hussein decided to learn how to fly an airplane. Obviously, a long-standing passion for high speeds affected. However, the young monarch's intention to learn to fly was met with strong opposition from the royal family and government. But he was firm in his decision and began to take lessons from the commander of the Jordanian Air Force, Colonel Eugene Dalgleish.

He, however, went to the trick. To beat back

the monarch has a hunt for flying, at the very first lesson he lifted him into the air on a small plane of the Oster type and performed aerobatics for half an hour. But young Hussein showed willpower by scheduling a second lesson the next day. Until the end of his life, the Jordanian king flew more than one thousand hours, mastered all types of aircraft and helicopters in service with the Royal Air Force, as well as passenger airliners, including the Boeing 747. By the way, once it saved his life.

But airplanes were not the only hobby of the late monarch. He was fond of radio business, diving, photography, tennis, water and alpine skiing. He had another passion - fishing. Here he excelled: in the fishing competition in the Red Sea he won a prize.

And yet the main thing for him was always state affairs.

According to my Jordanian colleagues, King Hussein ruled the country as "a strict father who does not tolerate open disagreement." Political parties are prohibited by law in Jordan. True, the monarch considered it possible to allow limited activities of Islamic fundamentalists, who in some countries, as you know, play in the main

clearly a decomposing role.

However, in 1985 he demonstrated that there is a limit to how far fundamentalists can go. He called on the legislature to pass a decree prohibiting the clergy from "uncontrolled, excessive preaching."

The Israeli media have repeatedly noted that the "little king" (as they called him for his small stature and for the size of the kingdom), "has always been the favorite of the Israelis." In their opinion, he was smart, cunning and strong. I could cry with joy, I was sincere in grief, cruel with enemies and generous with friends.

The Israeli public pitied him when he got involved in the war with Israel in solidarity with the Arabs. And I tried to understand when he supported Saddam Hussein in 1991 during the Gulf War.

Many people still believe that the Jordanian king was always late. Go to war, make peace. So the Nobel Prize went not to him, but to Yasser Arafat. Although it was he who did much more than other Arab leaders in order for the Israelis to believe that peace with the Arabs is possible.

THE LAST SENSATION OF THE MONARCH

Rapidly developing disease (cancer of the lymphatic system)

tala King Hussein by surprise. Therefore, the question of the heir to the throne he had to decide in a hurry. As a result, by the decision of the monarch, his eldest son from his second marriage, 37-year-old Abdullah, ascended the throne, and not his younger brother, 52-year-old Crown Prince Hassan, who held this title for 34 years.

What made the highly experienced king take such a decisive step? Perhaps parental feelings prevailed over brotherly ones?

The answer was given by the monarch himself in a handwritten letter on fourteen pages. It was read on Jordanian television and also directed to Prince Hassan.

By the way, the message that stunned the Jordanians was full of not only bitterness, but also reproaches. In it, the terminally ill king accused his brother of intending to usurp power, incriminated him with an attempt to take over the army, which has always been the backbone of power in Jordan. The king was outraged that Hassan was "inspiring false rumors" that denigrated his wife. Indeed, Queen Noor's stepsons and stepdaughters (Liza Halabi, an American of Lebanese descent who converted to Islam before marriage) viciously called her "the CIA queen."

In Jordan, it is still believed that the long

the presence of the king (since July 1998 he was undergoing medical treatment in the United States) untied the hands of the crown prince. Evidence of this is the dismissal of the chief of the general staff and several senior officers by Hasan, as well as the appointment of new ambassadors. In addition, he formed a new cabinet of ministers, composed exclusively of his supporters.

As the treatment of the monarch was delayed, they began to say about the crown prince that he was "exactly the man that Jordan needs." He is a Muslim, has received a good education, he delves into all the problems of the country. Apparently, these conversations reached the king, who realized that his brother was impatient to take the throne as soon as possible.

What then happened at the royal court brings to mind the French proverb "Cherche la femme"! The monarch's anger, which was accumulating in the American Mayo clinic, was also caused by the enmity between the two first ladies of Jordan - Queen Noor and the wife of Crown Prince Hassan, Princess Sarvat, a Pakistani by origin and very unpopular in the kingdom. They have long been, as they say, at knives.

The conflict erupted over who would become the heir ... the heir. When it turned out that the son of Hassan is a prince

Rashid, born in 1979, may become a rival of Hussein's son Prince Hamza, a fight has broken out ...

I must say that Princess Sarvat did her husband a disservice. She did not hide the fact that after his accession to the throne she intends to "rebuild and redecorate the palace." The king was informed that Sarvat was already behaving "like a queen." The monarch flew into a rage and, interrupting the course of treatment, rushed to Jordan to restore order in the kingdom. And pointed ...

But the following circumstance played its role no less. The king feared that his brother, having become monarch, would appoint his own son, not Hussein, as his heir. And thus the direct hereditary branch will be terminated.

It should be recalled here that in early childhood, the new king of Jordan, Abdullah, was already the heir to the throne. His father appointed him back in 1963. True, two years later the monarch changed his mind. In the turbulent political life of that time, he preferred to have a more mature heir, so that in the event of a "vacancy" on the throne - and Hussein was then assassinated more than once - to avoid a long regency.

In April 1965, the king made changes to the sections of the Constitution that determined the

row of succession to the throne. On their basis, he declared his younger brother Hassan the crown prince, bypassing the middle one - Muhammad. Moreover, in the future, the descendants of not Hussein himself were declared heirs, but Hassan. True, when in April 1975 the third wife of the monarch Alia gave birth to the first full-blooded son of the Arab line, Ali, the king announced that it was to him that power would pass from the crown prince.

Hussein has five sons left. Abdallah and Faisal from the second marriage, Ali from the third and, finally, Hamza and Hashim from the last, fourth, wife - Queen Nur.

Experts expressed the opinion that the greatest chances for the throne belonged to Ali, whose mother, a Palestinian Suha Tukan (after marriage, Queen Alia), died on February 9, 1977 in a plane crash. However, they did not discount the influence of Queen Nur on the late Hussein. She very much hoped that their eldest son Hamza would become the heir to the throne.

It was said about Abdullah and Faisal in Jordan (even in the royal palace) that they had no chance at all to receive the title of crown prince, since their mother Antoinette Avril Gardiner was a foreigner. She was the daughter of the underground

for the British military mission in Jordan. After marrying King Hussein, she became Princess Muna.

Most experts were sure that neither Abdullah nor Faisal would be appointed as successor by the cautious king. First of all, because of the fear that the Jordanian elite will not support those in whose veins half English blood flows as future monarchs.

After the death of Hussein, information appeared that he was going to declare the eldest (and most beloved) son from his marriage to Queen Nur - Hamzu as heir to the throne. However, realizing that his days were numbered, that he would not have time to prepare his son for the role of monarch, he opted for Abdullah as a more mature person.

The new king of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Abdullah Ben Al-Hussein Ben Talal, was sworn in on February 7, 1999 at a ceremony held in the Parliament building. This happened four hours after the death of his father. Putting his hand on the Koran, the crown prince, who became King Abdullah II, said: "I swear by the great Allah to uphold the Constitution and be loyal to the nation."

The oath was pronounced in Arabic. True, with a noticeable English accent.

The next day, the 4th King of Jordan buried the monarch's father in strict accordance with Muslim tradition. Farewell 15 volleys of artillery pieces announced to the world that the era of King Hussein I had ended and the era of King Abdullah II had begun ...

BY NATURE - WINNER

King Hussein left behind him, albeit a poor, but stable kingdom with a stable throne. Even with a relatively democratic political system of government compared to other monarchies.

And yet, on the way of King Abdullah there are not only a great many acute problems, but also no fewer sharp pitfalls. In the Arab world they said: "Jordan is King Hussein, and King Hussein is Jordan." Does the young monarch understand this?

Judging by the first statements, yes. But he nonetheless believes that Jordan should be seen in a broader perspective than a country in which one man implements politics. Abdullah understands something else: with the death of King Hussein, Jordan did not cease to be a kingdom. This means that a lot will depend on him, the new monarch.

Will the royal crown be too heavy for Abdull

s? This question is still being asked not only in Jordan, but also beyond its borders.

Will not be! - people who know him resolutely declare. - First of all, because he, like his late father, is a winner by nature.

King Abdullah was born on January 30, 1962. The young Hussein named his firstborn in honor of his beloved grandfather. His mother, an Englishwoman, Tony Gardiner (second wife of the late monarch) was the daughter of a lieutenant colonel in the British military mission in Jordan. After the divorce, she stayed in Amman. His brother Faisal, 35, is a general in the Jordanian army.

When Abdullah was four years old, he was sent to England to a privileged school. Brought up like his father in harsh Bedouin traditions, he graduated from Harrow Military College. As once young Hussein, the future king got up at seven in the morning, did exercises, took a cold shower. I cleaned the room myself, I cleaned my shoes myself. I also ironed the trousers myself, folding them, as my father did, under the mattress.

He then completed his training at the elite British Military Academy Sandhurst, which he graduated from as king by the late Jordanian monarch. In the early 80s, Abdallah served for some time in the British army. Studied

in Oxford, where he defended his diploma in his specialty. He also spent a year at Georgetown University in Washington. Hence it is smoother than Arabic, English.

Returning to Jordan in 1984, Abdullah focused on military service. He spent almost eight years at military bases in the desert. In 1994 he was promoted to brigadier general, and in May 98 - major general. Before accession to the throne, he was the commander of the Jordanian special forces, which make up the main support of the Hashemite dynasty. It was he who was commissioned by the king in 1996 to suppress the unrest in the south of the country. And he was also responsible for the capture of a group of dangerous criminals with strong tribal ties.

In July 1993, Abdullah married a Palestinian woman named Rania al-Yassin. They have two children - a son Hussein and a daughter Iman.

King Abdullah - a full-faced man, similar to a European, inherited a lot from his father. He has a charming smile and a well-developed sense of humor. While talking, the king looks directly into the eyes of the interlocutor. According to colleagues, he is a man of honor. But sometimes too impulsive.

Like a father in his time, Abda

la leads a very active lifestyle. He is fond of motorcycle racing, has the right to fly an aircraft. He enjoys skydiving. He is athletic and athletic, seriously studying oriental martial arts. Evil tongues claim that the new king inherited from his father a weakness for beautiful women, sports cars and comfort. But most people who know the young monarch note his energy and hard work.

Almost no one knew anything about his political predilections either in Jordan, or even more so outside its borders. First of all, because Abdullah never showed much interest in either politics or state affairs. All his thoughts were focused on the army. And many thought that he would become chief of the General Staff.

King Hussein decided in his own way:

It must be said that Abdallah, unlike his uncle, Crown Prince Hassan, did not participate in palace intrigues. But, as often happens, when the first rumors spread about Hussein's intention to make Hamza the heir, a whisper went around the Jordanian capital that, they say, Abdullah had long wanted to get the title of crown prince. Then they began to whisper about his intent

they either take the throne themselves, or become at least a "shadow monarch". Someone started a rumor that Abdullah allegedly told both friends and even foreign diplomats that if his uncle became king, then he should not expect support from him, Abdullah.

EXPERIENCE IS A LIFE BUSINESS

So, on the throne of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a new monarch - Abdullah II. Most Westernized and enlightened Arab leader.

By the first decree, King Abdullah, fulfilling the will of his father, appointed his half-brother, the eldest son of the late monarch and queen of Nur, Prince Hamza, who was born on March 29, 1980, as heir to the throne. He studies at the British Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

By appointing Hamza as crown prince, the young monarch confirmed not only maturity, but, perhaps, wisdom. If Hassan ascended the throne, Queen Nur would never have been able to get along with his wife, and most likely she would have had to leave Jordan. Therefore, Hasan's opal became for her a true gift of fate. Now the queen's hazy future is certain - she is the mother of the crown prince.

Another challenge for Abdullah is ending the rivalry.

and disputes within the ruling family. He understands that in order to gain credibility among the Jordanians, he first of all needs to gain credibility among the divided royal family. And the main thing is to find out and determine the relationship with the disgraced heir to the throne, Uncle Hassan.

Has he come to terms with the lost status? Will he and his supporters help the young king? Or did he harbor a resentment that could one day develop into a serious conflict?

The problems facing Abdullah await urgent solutions. In a series of these problems - primarily internal. This is 6 billion (in US dollars) debt, almost 30 percent of the unemployed in a population of 5 million people, and a shortage of water resources. The kingdom is very significantly affected by the economic sanctions against Iraq, as a result of which Jordan lost its largest market. Foreign trade revenues also shrank as King Hussein refused to join the anti-Iraqi coalition.

With the coming to power of a new monarch, the situation has changed somewhat. US President Bill Clinton has promised to allocate money to maintain economic stability in Jordan. Declared

about its readiness to provide financial assistance to many countries of the Persian Gulf.

In one of his first interviews, King Abdullah announced that his reign "will be distinguished by continuity in all the political directions followed by his father." He announced the unconditional continuation of "Jordan's pro-American policy, including close cooperation with Washington in all spheres." Abdullah emphasized that "he will fully follow the course of the late king to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East."

War is the most affordable option, said the young monarch. - His Majesty King Hussein is known throughout the world as the king of the world. This road is chosen by few. First of all - courageous politicians.

Jordan's stability has direct implications for all of its neighbors, from Israel to Iraq. Of course, a relationship of trust has developed between Amman and Jerusalem. This is due to the presence of common interests and, to a large extent, with the personal qualities of the late monarch.

Still, the union of the Hashemite Kingdom with the Jewish state is not very popular in the Arab world. And among the Jordanians too. Knowing this, King Abdullah did not

less, stated that he would fulfill all security obligations towards Israel. He assured that he would continue the path chosen by his father. Abdullah also called on the Israelis to view him "as a brother, friend and partner."

As a professional military king, he is aware of the unfavorable prospects along the borders of his kingdom, since Syria and Iraq are turbulent and potentially dangerous neighbors. They have always viewed Jordan as an artificial state entity that was created by the British in 1922. Therefore, Damascus and Baghdad will certainly try to challenge the young monarch to reveal his weaknesses. If the situation in the kingdom becomes more complicated, it cannot be ruled out that the named countries will not try to play the Jordanian card among themselves.

Yes, peace is not guaranteed to the new king. But, by all accounts, he is able to maintain his power, for he grew up in a royal environment and can count on support. In addition, among the political elite of Jordan, there are many people who were the right hand of the late monarch. They helped him rule the country and will surely help the young king

Abdullah is popular in the army. Behind him are many Bedouin tribes, traditionally loyal to his father, a Bedouin by origin. True, not all leaders of the Bedouin tribes like the new monarch, since his mother is a foreigner. But the Palestinians, who make up 60 percent of Jordan's population, support Abdullah, whose wife, Rania, is a Palestinian. But more important is the support of powerful Palestinian bankers.

* * *

King Hussein died in the last year of the millennium. He left the coming century with the just and humane dullness of elections, democracy and popular will. When asked once what he thought of the day he would have to leave the stage, the king stated:

I do not predict the future. But I do believe that the Hashemite Kingdom will continue ...

The late monarch solved many problems and crisis situations thanks to his rich political experience and charisma. These are the qualities that the young king, it must be admitted, does not yet possess. But experience will come with time. Abdallah, who inherited many of his father's traits, will learn to govern a country whose role in the Middle East is difficult to overestimate.

HUSSEIN BEN TALAL
(Hussein) (1935-1999), King of Jordan, née Hussein Ben Talal Ben Abdallah Ben Hussein, born November 14, 1935 in Amman (Transjordan, now Jordan), the first child of Emir Talal and Princess Zaina of the Hashemite dynasty. Educated in English schools Harrow and Sandhurst. He was the favorite of his grandfather, King Abdullah. After the death of the king in 1951, the Jordanian parliament removed the mentally ill Talal from the throne and proclaimed Hussein king, crowned on May 2, 1953. From the first days of his rule, Hussein faced many problems. A serious crisis occurred in April 1957 when the chief of staff of the Arab Legion, Jordan's main military force, revolted against the king. Hussein managed to maintain power thanks to exceptional personal courage, Bedouin support and the arrival of the US 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. In 1958, he and his nephew, King Faisal of Iraq, announced the creation of a federation of Jordan and Iraq. However, the assassination of Faisal that same year and the formation of the Iraqi Republic complicated Hussein's position. Unlike most Arab leaders, Hussein strove for a political settlement in the Near and Middle East. However, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Jordan lost its lands west of the Jordan River. After the war, Hussein, under pressure from Palestinian refugees, allowed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) guerrillas to conduct operations against Israel from their bases in Jordan. When Hussein tried to restrict their activities in Jordan in 1970, a ten-day civil war broke out between the PLO and Hussein's troops. In 1971, hostilities resumed, and Hussein's army defeated the partisans. The leaders of the Arab world strongly condemned Hussein for this step; relations with them deteriorated further in 1972 when he proposed the creation of a federation of lands of the Kingdom of Jordan on the east bank of the Jordan River and the West Bank occupied by Israel. Subsequently, Hussein began a difficult game, trying to improve relations with Arab countries and the PLO, while avoiding confrontation with Israel and maintaining friendly relations with the United States. Hussein tried to remain neutral in late 1990, when Saddam Hussein decided to annex Kuwait, but public statements by the king gave reason to consider him a supporter of Iraq, and after the defeat of the latter, Jordan lost subsidies from the Gulf countries. In 1991, Hussein was included among the participants in the negotiations, the guarantors of which were the United States and the USSR. He was dissatisfied with the conclusion of agreements between Israel and the PLO, but later worked out with Israel a common agenda for bilateral negotiations. Their result was the signing in July 1994 in Washington by Hussein and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of a declaration that ended the 46-year state of war between the two countries. Hussein played an important mediating role in improving relations between Israel and Palestine after Benjamin Netanyahu was elected prime minister in 1996. In August 1992, Hussein arrived in the United States for surgery to remove a tumor. Hussein has ten children. In 1978 he married (fourth marriage) American Elizabeth Halabi, who received the title of Queen of Nor. Hussein remained King of Jordan until his death in Amman on February 7, 1999. The last act of the monarch was the appointment of Abdullah's son as heir to the throne.

Collier's Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .

See what "HUSSEIN BEN TALAL" is in other dictionaries:

- (Hussein I Hussein ibn Talal) (b. 1935), King of Jordan since 1952 ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Hussein bin Talal - (Hussein ibn Talal) (1935 99), King of Jordan (since 1953), grandson of Abdullah bin Hussein, succeeded his father Talal, who was ousted from power in 1952 due to mental illness. Socially conservative and active ... ... The World History

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Hussein bin Talal is an Arab. حسين بن طلال ... Wikipedia

Hussein bin Talal - HUSAIN BEN TALOL (Hussein I, Hussein ibn Talal) (b. 1935), King of Jordan since 1952. From the Hashemite dynasty ... Biographical Dictionary