Italian Tripolitania
Encyclopedia
Italian Tripolitania was an African colony, in present day western Libya
, of the Kingdom of Italy
from 1927 to 1934. It was part of the Italian North Africa
territory conquered from the Ottoman empire
in 1911. Italian Tripolitania
included the western northern half of Libya, with Tripoli
as its main city.
Italian Tripolitania
, and Italian Cyrenaica
, became independent colonial entities within Italian North Africa
in 1927. In 1934, Italian Tripolitania and Cyrenaica became part of Italian Libya
.
A large number of Italian colonists moved to Tripolitania in the late 1930s. These settlers went primarily to the area of Sahel al-Jefara, in Tripolitania, and in the capital Tripoli. In 1939 there were in all Tripolitania nearly 60,000 Italians, most living in Tripoli (whose population was nearly 40% Italian). As a consequence, huge economic improvements arose in all coastal Tripolitania. For example, Italians created the Tripoli Grand Prix
, an internationally-renowned automobile race.
In December 1934, individual freedom, inviolability of home and property, the right to join the military or civil administrations, and the right to freely pursue a career or employment were guaranteed to autochtonous Libyans (later called by Benito Mussolini
"Moslem Italians").
In 1937, northern Tripolitania was split into Tripoli Province
and Misrata Province.
The Province of Tripoli (the most important in all Italian Libya) was subdivided into:
In 1939, Tripolitania was administratively united with metropolitan Italy, as part of Greater Italia, but in 1943 the region was invaded and occupied by the Allies
; this was the end of the Italian colonial presence.
Italy tried unsuccessfully to maintain the colony of Tripolitania after World War II
, but in 1947 relinquished all Italian colonies in a peace treaty.
and the railways Tripoli-Zuara, Tripoli-Garian and Tripoli-Tagiura
. Other important infrastructures were the enlargement of the port of Tripoli and the creation of the Tripoli airport.
A group of villages for Italians and Libyans were created on the coastal tripolitania during the 1930s.
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, of the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
from 1927 to 1934. It was part of the Italian North Africa
Italian North Africa
Italian North Africa was the aggregate of territories and colonies controlled by Italy in North Africa from 1911 until World War II...
territory conquered from the Ottoman empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in 1911. Italian Tripolitania
Tripolitania
Tripolitania or Tripolitana is a historic region and former province of Libya.Tripolitania was a separate Italian colony from 1927 to 1934...
included the western northern half of Libya, with Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
as its main city.
History
Tripolitania
Tripolitania or Tripolitana is a historic region and former province of Libya.Tripolitania was a separate Italian colony from 1927 to 1934...
, and Italian Cyrenaica
Italian Cyrenaica
Italian Cyrenaica was an African colony, in present day eastern Libya, of the Kingdom of Italy from 1927 to 1934. It was part of the Italian North Africa territory conquered from the Ottoman empire in 1911.-History:...
, became independent colonial entities within Italian North Africa
Italian North Africa
Italian North Africa was the aggregate of territories and colonies controlled by Italy in North Africa from 1911 until World War II...
in 1927. In 1934, Italian Tripolitania and Cyrenaica became part of Italian Libya
Italian Libya
Italian Libya was a unified colony of Italian North Africa established in 1934 in what represents present-day Libya...
.
A large number of Italian colonists moved to Tripolitania in the late 1930s. These settlers went primarily to the area of Sahel al-Jefara, in Tripolitania, and in the capital Tripoli. In 1939 there were in all Tripolitania nearly 60,000 Italians, most living in Tripoli (whose population was nearly 40% Italian). As a consequence, huge economic improvements arose in all coastal Tripolitania. For example, Italians created the Tripoli Grand Prix
Tripoli Grand Prix
The Tripoli Grand Prix was a motor racing event first held in 1925 on a racing circuit outside Tripoli, the capital of what was then Italian Tripolitania...
, an internationally-renowned automobile race.
In December 1934, individual freedom, inviolability of home and property, the right to join the military or civil administrations, and the right to freely pursue a career or employment were guaranteed to autochtonous Libyans (later called by Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
"Moslem Italians").
In 1937, northern Tripolitania was split into Tripoli Province
Tripoli Province
Tripoli Province, or Provincia di Tripoli in Italian, was one of the provinces of Libya under Italian rule. It was established in 1937.-Characteristics:La "Provincia di Tripoli" was located in northern Italian Libya, next to Tunisia...
and Misrata Province.
The Province of Tripoli (the most important in all Italian Libya) was subdivided into:
- TripoliTripoliTripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
- Zauia
- Sugh el Giumaa
- NalutNalutNalut is the capital of the Nalut District in Libya and is home to a Berber granary and community.Nalut lies approximately half way between Tripoli and Ghadames, at the western end of the Nafusa Mountains coastal range, in the Tripolitania region.-Architecture:Nalut is home to the Ksar Nalut,...
- Garian
In 1939, Tripolitania was administratively united with metropolitan Italy, as part of Greater Italia, but in 1943 the region was invaded and occupied by the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
; this was the end of the Italian colonial presence.
Italy tried unsuccessfully to maintain the colony of Tripolitania after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but in 1947 relinquished all Italian colonies in a peace treaty.
Infrastructure
In Italian Tripolitania were made many infrastructures by the Italians: the most important were the coastal road between Tripoli and BenghaziBenghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
and the railways Tripoli-Zuara, Tripoli-Garian and Tripoli-Tagiura
Italian Libya Railways
Italian Libya Railways was a group of small railways built in the Italian colony of Libya between the two World Wars.-History:The Kingdom of Italy built in Italian Libya nearly 400 km of railways with 950 mm gauge.-Projects:...
. Other important infrastructures were the enlargement of the port of Tripoli and the creation of the Tripoli airport.
A group of villages for Italians and Libyans were created on the coastal tripolitania during the 1930s.
See also
- List of colonial heads of Tripolitania
- Postage stamps and postal history of Tripolitania
- Territorio Sahara Libico
- Italian Libya RailwaysItalian Libya RailwaysItalian Libya Railways was a group of small railways built in the Italian colony of Libya between the two World Wars.-History:The Kingdom of Italy built in Italian Libya nearly 400 km of railways with 950 mm gauge.-Projects:...