Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa
| Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa | |
|---|---|
| 1st Emir of Bahrain 13th Hakim of Bahrain |
|
Isa bin Salman in 1998
|
|
| Reign | 2 November 1961 – 6 March 1999 |
| Coronation | 16 December 1961 |
| Predecessor | Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa |
| Successor | Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa |
| Born | 3 June 1933 Jasra, Bahrain |
| Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Manama, Bahrain |
| Burial | Al Rifa'a Cemetery |
| Spouse | Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa |
| Issue | King Hamad Sheikh Rashed Sheikh Mohammed Sheikh Abdullah Sheikh Ali Sheika Munira Sheika Maryam Sheika Shaikha Sheika Nora |
| House | Al Khalifa |
| Father | Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa |
| Mother | Mouza bint Hamad Al Khalifa |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (Arabic: عيسى بن سلمان آل خليفة; 3 June 1933 – 6 March 1999) was the 1st emir of Bahrain from 1961 until his death. Born in Jasra, he became emir upon the death of his father, Salman ibn Hamad.
Contents
Reign
Isa's reign began in December 1961 since his father Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa died in November.[1][2] His mother was Mouza bint Hamad Al Khalifa. Isa visited Ayetollah Mohsin Al Hakim İn Najaf in 1968 to indicate his keenness to reinforce relationships with the Shia.[3]
His term saw Bahrain gain its independence from the United Kingdom in 1971.[4] 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[citation needed]. 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.[5] In August 1975, however, he dissolved Parliament because it refused to pass the government-sponsored State Security Law of 1974.[6] 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).[citation needed]
During his reign there was an arrangement between him and his brother Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman.[7] Emir was assigned a diplomatic and ceremonial role, whereas Sheikh Khalifa involved in controlling the government and economy as prime minister.[7]
Marriage and children
Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa had one wife, his cousin Sheikha Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa (1933–2009). They married on 8 May 1949. They had six sons and six daughters:
- King Hamad
- Sheikh Rashed (Died on 17 December 2010)
- Sheikh Mohamed (Commander of the National Guard)
- Sheikh Abdullah (Vice President of the Higher Committee for the Horseback riding club)
- Sheikh Ali (Minister of the Royal Court Affairs)
- Sheikha Munira
- Sheikha Maryam
- Sheikha Shaikha
- Sheikha Noura
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 area took place. Nevertheless, critics note that he also dissolved Parliament, giving absolute power to the royal family.
Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa died of a heart attack on 6 March 1999 at the al Sakhir Palace in Manama shortly after his meeting with the United States defense secretary William Cohen.[8] He was 65.[4]
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. Emir was buried at the Al-Rifa'a cemetery.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.[8]
Foreign honors
Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa was awarded :[9]
Spain : Grand Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (4 December 1981)[10]
Egypt : Grand Collar of the Order of the Nile
France : Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honor
Germany : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Iran : Grand Collar of the Order of Pahlavi
Kingdom of Iraq :
- Order of the Two Rivers 1st Class (x/5/1968, 2nd Class 3/4/1952)
- King Faisal II Installation Medal (2/5/1953)
Jordan :
- Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali
- Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance
Kuwait : Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great of Kuwait
Lebanon : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Cedar (2nd Class, 1958)
Morocco : Collar of the Order of Muhammad
Oman : Civil Order of Oman, 1st Class
Qatar : Collar of the Order of the Independence of the State
South Africa : Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope (1995)[11]
Syria Grand Cross of the Order of Umayyad
Tunisia : Grand Cross of the Order of the Independence
UAE : Order of Al-Nahayyan 1st Class- Empire of Iran : Commemorative Medal of the 2500th Anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire (14 October 1971).[12][13]
United Kingdom :
- Honorary Knight Commander (KCMG, 14 July 1964) and Honorary Knight Grand Cross (GCMG, 15/2/1979) of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB, 10/4/1984)
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (2 June 1953)
Titles
- 1933–1942: Sheikh Isa II bin Salman II Al Khalifa
- 1942–1961: His Excellency 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
- 1971–1999: His Highness Sheikh Isa II bin Salman II Al Khalifa, Emir of Bahrain
See also
References
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External links
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| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Emir of Bahrain 1961–1999 |
Succeeded by Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa |
- Use dmy dates from April 2013
- Articles containing Arabic-language text
- Articles with unsourced statements from May 2015
- Articles with unsourced statements from April 2012
- 1933 births
- 1999 deaths
- People from the Northern Governorate
- Bahraini monarchs
- House of Khalifa
- Muslim monarchs
- Collars of the Order of Mubarak the Great
- Grand Cordons of the Order of the Nile
- Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur
- Grand Crosses of the Order of Good Hope
- Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- Civil First Classes of the Order of Oman
- Recipients of the Order of Pahlevi
- Recipients of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali
- Recipients of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance
- Grand Cordons of the National Order of the Cedar
- Order of Umayyad
- Collars of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
