Hashemite Kingdom of Arabia

The Hashemite Kingdom

Constitutional Monachism

The **Hashemite Kingdom of Arabia**, otherwise known as **Hashemite Arabia** or just **Arabia**, is a country in Western Asia, spanning the majority of the Arabian peninsula. The country was established by the British and the French, with agreements put in place by the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence.

The first King was Hussein bin Ali, the main leader of the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire. Under him, the Hashemite Kingdom pursued a policy of constitutionalism, and a position of Prime Minister was established. The first and current Prime Minister is Abd Allah Siraj, the country's only serving Prime Minister, since 1925. Although Siraj effectively runs the government of the Kingdom, the King still holds divine, executive and intervening power over the government's actions. After King Hussein died in 1931, his son, Ali bin Hussein, was crowned King of the Arabs.

## History

### Reversing the Sykes-Picot Agreement

Between 1915 and 1916, the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence defined Arab revolutionary politics, with the promise of a new and independent Arab state following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Hussein bin Ali was promised leadership when it came to be. However, when it became apparent that the Entente would win and the Ottoman Empire would collapse, the British and the French, overseen by the Russians and the Italians, made agreements to split the Arabian peninsula and establish zones of occupation in Syria and Iraq, which became known as the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

The Bolsheviks brought to light the Sykes-Picot Agreement shortly after taking power, and Hussein bin Ali felt betrayed. It seemed too that the British and the French would be prepared to uphold the agreement, until disaster struck when, in 1920, shortly after the end of the war, Germany endured a revolution, and became the German Socialist Republic.

Britain and France were struck with paranoia that the German example of imperial defiance would happen elsewhere, especially in Arabia where it was clear there was anti-British sentiment growing over the reveal of the Sykes-Picot Agreement. The British government declared that the agreement would be reversed to uphold 'global interests in the region', or more specifically, to stop socialism or communism flourishing in the area.

### The Arabian State Forms

In a set of British-backed wars from 1920 to 1923, with T. E. Lawrence leading the British armies, the Hashemites under Hussein bin Ali began to expand their power in the area, specifically taking on the House of Saud and their policy of Wahhabism, in favour of a more constitutional Islamic monarchic government. With British support, the Hashemites beat the Saudis into submission, and annexed the Arabian lands.

For their help in forming the new Arabic state, Britain was entitled to keep their lands in Kuwait, Qatar and the Emirates. They sent political advisors to the new government forming in Mecca, helping them construct a new constitution that implemented a Prime Minister, but agreed for the King to hold divine, executive and intervening power in the government. When this finally came to be in 1925, Abd Allah Siraj, a prominent Arabian politician, was decreed the country's first Prime Minister, given his pre-existing political experience and dedication to the new Arabic state.

### Economic Growth

As the Arabic state began excavating oil reserves, many countries, including the British, began investing. The Arabian economy, although originally shabby following the war, was now steadily on the rise in becoming, in the words of British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, 'the Oil Kingdom of the World'. The Hashemite Kingdom was enjoying a period of economic growth, and soon was becoming recognised as the Islamic centre of the world. King Hussein was advancing from King of the Arabs, to potentially King of the Muslims around the globe.

Their position in the world began to expand too. Although not an official member, the Council of Allies invited the Hashemite Kingdom to observe, alongside the German Free State. This meant that although it was not a member state of the military and political alliance, the Hashemite Kingdom would be able to have some say in the Council's directions. Prime Minister Siraj accepted the role with much enthusiasm, believing the Kingdom had seen its first glimpse of international prestige.

### Long Live the King

Entering into the 1930s, it was becoming apparent that the King was dying. His first son, Ali bin Hussein, was ready to take the throne, despite his ageing self too. In June 1931, the inevitable occurred and King Hussein died. Ali took the throne as King of the Arabs. He reaffirmed Arabian relations with the Council of Allies and specifically the United Kingdom.

As a sign of goodwill between the British and the new King, the British government agreed to relinquish control of its Arabian regions to the Hashemites in July, and sent T. E. Lawrence as the ambassador to maintain the British-Arabic relations. For his help in the Arab Revolt and the following Arabian Wars between the Hashemites and the Saudis, Lawrence was welcomed with open arms, and made an honourary citizen. He was given his own British garrison as protection.

Now as King, Ali bin Hussein must maintain what his father created, despite his ageing presence. For if he were to die soon as well, the next in line, Abdullah bin Al-Hussein, may see the country devolve into civil war if the Saudis were to rise up again.

## Way Forward

There are some ways the Hashemite Kingdom can go forward.

### The Kingdom Remains Strong

Although Ali bin Hussein will die in 1935, his brother, Abdullah bin Al-Hussein, will take over and lead the country. The Kingdom remains strong, and helps to maintain stability in Asia, potentially joining a war alongside the British or even becoming an official member of the Council of Allies. The Saudi presence can be stamped out to prevent tensions from rising.

### The House of Saud Resurfaces

The Hashemites have sold off Arabian oil to foreign investors for too long; it is time Arabia gets to keep it for herself and undergo her own industrial revolution. We cannot do that with the Hashemites. A Civil War can be kicked off if there's enough support for the House of Saud's conservative fundamentalism, led by Abdulaziz ibn Saud.

### The British Intervention

If the Hashemite Kingdom falls into a state of disrepair, in a state of civil war between the Hashemites and the Saudis, the British can intervene under the leadership of T. E. Lawrence. This means the British can occupy the Arabian Kingdom, and restructure it however they see fit, or (in a very cursed scenario) incorporate Lawrence as a foreign military dictator or foreign king.