Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009) |
| Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa | |
|---|---|
| Emir of Bahrain Hakim of Bahrain |
|
 |
|
| Reign | November 1961 – 6 March 1999 |
| Coronation | 16 December 1961 |
| Born | June 3, 1933 |
| Birthplace | Jasra, British Bahrain  , |
| Died | March 6, 1999 (aged 65) |
| Place of death | Manama, Bahrain  |
| Predecessor | Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa |
| Heir apparent | Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa |
| Successor | Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa |
| Consort | Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa |
| Royal House | Al Khalifa |
| Father | Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa |
| Religious beliefs | Sunni Islam |
Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, GCB, GCMG (Arabic: عيسى بن سلمان آل خليفة; June 3, 1933 – March 6, 1999) was the monarch or emir of Bahrain from 1961 until his death. Born in the town of Jasra, he became emir upon the death of his father, Salman ibn Hamad. On May 8, 1949, he married his only wife, Shaikha Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa (1933–2009).
Isa's reign saw Bahrain gain its independence from the United Kingdom in 1971. While the government initially considered joining the United Arab Emirates, Isa had his country withdraw (along with Qatar) over his dissatisfaction with the proposed constitution. He then attempted to introduce a moderate form of parliamentary democracy, and men (though not women) were given the vote in parliamentary elections in 1973. In 1975, however, he dissolved Parliament because it refused to pass the government-sponsored State Security Law of 1974. The parliamentary system was never restored and forced the emir to contend with occasional protests from the leftist and Islamist camps, which reached their peak in 1994 (see: History of Bahrain).
Contents |
[edit] Marriage and Children
Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa had only one wife, Shaikha Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa (1933–2009). They had six sons and six daughters:
- King Hamad
- Sheikh Mohamed (President of National Guard Forces)
- Sheikh Abdullah (Vice President of the Higher Committee for the Horseback riding club)
- Sheikh Rashed (Died on 17 December 2010)
- Sheikh Ali (Minister of Diwan Affairs)
- Sheikha Mouneira
- Sheikha Mariam
- Sheikha Sheikha
- Sheikha Noura
[edit] Legacy and Death
During his 38 years as Emir, the economic transformation of Bahrain into a modern nation and a key financial center in the Persian Gulf took place. Nevertheless, critics note that he also dissolved Parliament, giving absolute power to the royal family.
Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa died on March 6, 1999 at the al-Sakhir Palace. US President Bill Clinton expressed "deep sadness" at the news of the emir's death calling him "a good friend of peace." UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan also expressed "great sadness," and described the emir as "a force for stability" in the region. He was buried at the Al-Rifa'a cemetery.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
[edit] Foreign Honors
KCMG (14/7/1964)[1]- GCB (10/4/1984)[1]
- GCMG (15/2/1979)[1]
Grand Collar of the Order of Pahlavi of Iran[1]
Grand Collar of the Order of the Nile of Egypt[1]
Collar of the Order of Muhammed of Morocco[1]
Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great of Kuwait[1]
Collar of the Order of the Independence of the State of Qatar[1]
Grand Collar of the Order of Hussein ibn 'Ali of Jordan[1]- Grand Collar of the Order of the Renaissance of Jordan[1]
Grand Collar of the Order of Cedar of Lebanon (2nd Class, 1958)[1]
Grand Collar of the Order of Omayyad of Syria[1]
Grand Collar of the Order of the Independence of Tunisia[1]
Legion of Honor of France[1]
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany[1]
Civil Order of Oman, 1st Class[1]
Order of Al-Nahayyan 1st Class of the U.A.E.[1]
Order of the Two Rivers 1st Class of Iraq (x/5/1968, 2nd Class 3/4/1952)[1]- King Faisal II Installation Medal (2/5/1953) of Iraq[1]
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (2/6/1953)[1]
[edit] Titles
- 1933–1961: Sheikh Isa II bin Salman II Al Khalifa
- 1961–1964: His Highness Sheikh Isa II bin Salman II Al Khalifa, Hakim of Bahrain
- 1964–1971: His Highness Sheikh Sir Isa II bin Salman II Al Khalifa, Hakim of Bahrain, KCMG
- 1971–1979: His Highness Sheikh Sir Isa II bin Salman II Al Khalifa, Emir of Bahrain, KCMG
- 1979–1984: His Highness Sheikh Sir Isa II bin Salman II Al Khalifa, Emir of Bahrain, GCMG
- 1984–1999: His Highness Sheikh Sir Isa II bin Salman II Al Khalifa, Emir of Bahrain, GCB, GCMG
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Lawson, Fred (1990). "Isa bin Sulman Al Khalifah". In Bernard Reich. Political Leaders of the Contemporary Middle East and North Africa: A Biographical Dictionary. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 267–271. ISBN 9780313262135. http://books.google.com/books?id=3D5FulN2WqQC&lpg=PA267&pg=PA267#v=onepage&q&f=false.
[edit] See also
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa |
Emir of Bahrain 1961–1999 |
Succeeded by Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa |
