libya

LIBYA

The Sanussi Dynasty

BRIEF HISTORY

The Sanussi are descendants of the prophet through Hasan, son of Imam Ali, the fourth Caliph, by his daughter, Fatima. Hasan's grandson, Idris ibn Ali, arrived in North Africa during the 8^th century AD, having failed in his revolt against the Abbasid Caliph. He established the Idrisid state at Fez, in Morocco. The family takes its name from a religious Sheikh named Sanussi who lived in Themcen during the 13^th century. Their descendant Sayyid Muhammad ibn 'Ali as-Sanussi, established the Senussi Order in 1837 with strict adherence to Muslim principles, eshewing ostentation, tobacco and alchohol, and the music, dancing and gyrations practiced by the existing orders. Unable to cross Algeria because of the French occupation, he established his capital at at Jaghbub, in Cyrenaica. He built a great mosque an a university which came to rival Al-Azhar, but which was shut down on the orders of Khadafy in 1984, the graves and remains of the Sanussi family being desecrated at the same time.

STYLES AND TITLES:

The Sovereign: King of the United Kingdom of Libya, with the style of His Majesty.

The Chief wife of the Sovereign: Queen, with the style of Her Majesty.

Heir Apparent: Crown Prince, with the style of His Royal Highness.

Male descendants of the Sovereign and Crown Prince, in the male line: Prince, with the style of His Royal Highness.

Female descendants of the Sovereign and Crown Prince, in the male line: Princess, with the style of Her Royal Highness.

Other male descendants of the House of Sanussi, in the male line: Sayyid (given name) ibn (father's given name) as-Sanussi.

Other female descendants of the House of Sanussi, in the male line: Sayyida (given name) binti (father's given name) as-Sanussi.

RULES OF SUCCESSION:

Hereditary in the House of Sanussi, the Sovereign having the right to nominate his Heir Apparent and successor.

ORDERS AND DECORATIONS:

Please see link below.

SOURCES:
Burke's Royal Families of the World. Volume II: Africa & The Middle East. Burke's Publications Ltd., London, 1980.
E.A.V. de Candole, The Life and Times of King Idris of Libya. Mohamed Ben Ghalbon, Manchester, 1990.
Sir Edward Evans Evans-Pritchard, Biographical Notes on Members of the Sanusi Family, 1945.
Sir Edward Evans Evans-Pritchard, The Sanusi of Cyrenaica. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1949.

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Dr. Morris L. Bierbrier, FSA.

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I would be grateful to hear from anyone who may have changes, corrections or additions to contribute. If you do, please be kind enough to send me an e-mail using the contact details at: Copyright© Christopher Buyers

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