Muhammad al-Badr

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H.M. Muhammad al-Badr (February 15, 1926 – August 6, 1996) (Arabic: المنصور محمد البدر بن أحمد) was the last king of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen (North Yemen), and leader of the monarchist regions during the North Yemen Civil War (1962-1970). His full name was al-Mansur Bi'llah Muhammad al-Badr bin al-Nasir-li-din'ullah Ahmad, Imam and Commander of the Faithful, and King of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of the Yemen.

[edit] Biography

Muhammad al-Badr was born in 1926 as oldest son of Ahmad bin Yahya, later imam of the Zaydis and king of North Yemen. He assisted his father in defending his father's control over North Yemen from two rebellious brothers in 1955.

Ahmad named al-Badr crown prince. In 1956 he forged connections and signed agreements during a tour to Soviet bloc countries. During his father's trip abroad for medical treatment in 1960 al-Badr introduces a number of reforms in Yemen which his father had promised. His father annulled these upon his return. In 1962 Imam Ahmad died, and al-Badr succeeded him. Among al-Badr's first actions was to grant amnesty to political prisoners.

On September 26 of that year Abdullah as-Sallal, who al-Badr had appointed commander of the royal guard, staged a coup, and declared himself president of the Yemen Arab Republic. Al-Badr escaped to the north of North Yemen, and rallied tribes that support him in opposition to Sallal. Fighting erupted between the two groups, starting the North Yemen Civil War. Al-Badr started getting support from Saudi Arabia, while the republicans received support from Egypt.

In 1970 when Saudi Arabia stopped its support for al-Badr, President Abdul Rahman al-Iryani managed to make peace with al-Badr's supporters. This brought the civil war to an end, and al-Badr left for exile in the United Kingdom. He died in 1996 in London, and is buried in Brookwood Cemetery in Woking, in Surrey.

al-Qasimi Born: February 15 1926 ; Died: August 6 1996
Regnal Titles
Preceded by Ahmad bin Yahya	King of Yemen 1962- 1970	Monarchy Abolished
Titles in pretence
New Title	* NOT REIGNING * King of Yemen (1970-1996)	Succeeded by Ageel bin Muhammad al-Badr