Today in History – 8 January

King Abdullah I of Jordan visits Ankara

King Abdullah I of Jordan traveled to Ankara on an official visit on 8 January 1947. President İsmet İnönü held a dinner in his honor at Çankaya Pavilion.

The son of Hussein bin Ali, Sharif and Emir of Mecca, Abdullah I was a skillful politician and the real mastermind behind the doors although he appeared to be overshadowed by his brother Faisal on the surface. The Turkish government was sympathetic towards Abdullah I, for he had, to the best of his ability, tried to prevent the carnage other members of his families instigated during the Arab Revolt and was relatively kinder to Turkish prisoners of war. Abdullah I’s ultimate dream was to establish a Greater Syria, similar to the former Ottoman administrative division. In order to seek support for this plan, the king had also visited Atatürk in 1937.

When, on 25 May 1946, the Emirate of Transjordan declared independence, Abdullah I announced himself the first king of Jordan and visited Turkey subsequent to his coronation to strengthen his political ties. Sailing from the Port of Haifa to İskenderun aboard the Savarona and traveling to Ankara, Abdullah I had brought along a magnificent chest set to offer to President İsmet İnönü.

King Abdullah I was assassinated by a Palestinian gunman on 20 July 1951 while attending Friday prayers at the Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem in the company of his grandson, Prince Hussein.