King Abdullah of Jordan and John Glubb Bagot. Circa 1947. Wikimedia Commons/War Office. Public domain.
“I do not wish to see any among you identify yourselves by geographical region. I wish to see everyone rather trace his descent to the Arabian Peninsula, from which we all originate. All the Arab countries are the country of every Arab.[1]”
Abdullah I (1882-1951) was, as his name suggests, the first ruler of what became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Yet, his ascension to the throne of a new British protectorate did not mark the beginnings of young nationhood.
