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Ammon News - Jordan on Wednesday marks the 71st anniversary of the death of His Majesty King Abdullah I (1882-1951), the founder of the Kingdom, who was assassinated as he was entering Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem for Friday prayers on July 20, 1951.

As Jordan commemorates this anniversary, it recalls that leader who left Mecca leading the first free Arabs, promising the modern Arab renaissance, the unity of the nation and its noble message, freedom and emancipation from occupation and custodianship, and the announcement of the dawn of his new glorious nation.

While the founding king played a leading national role in the Arab liberation movement at the beginning of the twentieth century, he exerted a concerted effort on behalf of the intellectual and political leaders, and sought a brighter future for the Arab nation, His Majesty King Abdullah II continues the approach of the Hashemites and the founding grandfather in order to consolidate the common denominators of the Arab nation that achieve strength and a better future for it.

His Majesty also continues to root the democratic path established by the grandfather.

As a result of the keenness of Sharif Hussein bin Ali, the leader of the Great Arab Revolt, to prepare his sons, princes politically, militarily and statesmen, the founding king was the first foreign minister in the first Arab government that was formed after the announcement of the Great Arab Revolt.

The founding king was also one of the key military leaders of the Revolt, as he took command of the eastern army that besieged Medina and paralyzed the capacity of the largest Turkish military garrison that was stationed there, numbering 14,000 soldiers, and remained under siege until the end of World War I, when it surrendered to the forces of the Revolt led by the founding king in 1918

After arriving in Ma'an, he assumed the Throne of Transjordan, which was formed in 1921, establishing the first centralised government out of a mostly tribal and nomadic society.

King Abdullah I focused on nation building and developing the institutional foundations of modern Jordan.

He is also remembered for promulgating Jordan’s first Constitution in 1928 and holding the country’s first parliamentary elections in 1929.

He laid down the basis for democracy in the Kingdom, and called for political pluralism. The first political party was formed during his reign.

A poet himself, he used to meet with poets, writers and scholars, and discuss the country’s affairs.