List of heads of state of Syria
Encyclopedia
This is a list of heads of state of Syria
from the end of the Ottoman rule
in 1918 to the present day.
Arab Kingdom of Syria
French Mandate of Syria
Syrian Republic
United Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
from the end of the Ottoman rule
Ottoman Syria
Ottoman Syria is a European reference to the area that during European Renaissance from the late 15th to early 18th century was called the Levant within the early period of the Ottoman Empire, the Orient until the early 19th century, and Greater Syria until 1918...
in 1918 to the present day.
Color key (for political party) |
Arab Kingdom of SyriaArab Kingdom of SyriaThe Arab Kingdom of Syria is the first modern Arab state to come into existence, and although it officially lasted less than a year , its existence has had a lasting impact in the Arab world to this day. Throughout its existence it was led by Sharif Hussein bin Ali’s son Faisal bin Hussein...
(1918-1920)
# | Name | Picture | Born-Died | Took Office | Left Office | Political Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heads of Government | |||||||
1 | Muhammad Said al-Jazairi | 1833–1919 | 30 September 1918 (several hours) | Independent | |||
2 | Rida Pasha al-Rikabi | 1864–1943 | 30 September 1918 | 5 October 1918 | Independent | ||
King King of Syria The title King of Syria, was established briefly following the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire in the aftermath of World War I. Faysal ibn Husayn of the House of Hashim was proclaimed King of Greater Syria on 7 March 1920 in Damascus, following the Arab revolt against the Ottomans of 1916–1918... (Hashemite Hashemite Hashemite is the Latinate version of the , transliteration: Hāšimī, and traditionally refers to those belonging to the Banu Hashim, or "clan of Hashim", a clan within the larger Quraish tribe... ) |
|||||||
3 | Faisal I Faisal I of Iraq Faisal bin Hussein bin Ali al-Hashemi, was for a short time King of the Arab Kingdom of Syria or Greater Syria in 1920, and was King of the Kingdom of Iraq from 23 August 1921 to 1933... |
1883–1933 | 5 October 1918 | 28 July 1920 |
French Mandate of SyriaFrench Mandate of SyriaOfficially the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon was a League of Nations mandate founded after the First World War and the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire...
(1920-1946)
# | Name | Picture | Born-Died | Took Office | Left Office | Political Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acting Heads of State | |||||||
4 | Ala ad-Din ad-Durubi Basha | 1854–1929 | 28 July 1920 | 21 August 1920 | Independent | ||
5 | Jamil al-Ulshi Jamil al-Ulshi Jamil al-Ulshi was a Syrian politician and acting head of state during the French Mandate era.-Biography:He was born and raised in Damascus, and educated in the Ottoman Military Academy in Istanbul.... |
1883–1951 | 4 September 1920 | 30 November 1920 | French appointee | ||
President | |||||||
6 | Subhi Bay Barakat al-Khalidi | 1883–1939 | 28 June 1922 | 1 January 1925 | Independent | ||
Heads of State | |||||||
6 | Subhi Bay Barakat al-Khalidi | 1883–1939 | 1 January 1925 | 21 December 1925 | French appointee | ||
7 | François Pierre-Alype (acting) | 1853–1932 | 9 February 1926 | 28 April 1926 | French appointee | ||
8 | Damad-i Shariyari Ahmad Nami Bay | 1840–1928 | 28 April 1926 | 15 February 1928 | Independent | ||
9 | Taj al-Din al-Hasani Taj al-Din al-Hasani President Taj al-Din al-Hasani was a French-appointed Syrian leader and politician. He was born and raised into a family of Muslim scholars in Damascus... (acting) |
1885–1943 | 15 February 1928 | 19 November 1931 | Independent | ||
10 | Léon Solomiac Léon Solomiac Léon Solomiac was Governor General for various colonies in French Colonial Empire.... (acting) |
1873–1960 | 19 November 1931 | 11 June 1932 | French appointee | ||
Presidents | |||||||
11 | Muhammad Ali al-Abid | 1867–1939 | 11 June 1932 | 21 December 1936 | French appointee | ||
12 | Hashim al-Atassi Hashim al-Atassi Hashim Bay Khalid al-Atassi was a Syrian nationalist, statesman and its President from 1936 to 1939, 1949 to 1951, and 1954 to 1955.- Background and early career :... (1st time) |
1875–1960 | 21 December 1936 | 7 July 1939 | National Bloc National Bloc (Syria) The National Bloc was a Syrian political party that emerged to fight for Syrian independence during the French Mandate of Syria period.The party was created after a national conference in 1928, by Ibrahim Hananu.... |
||
Chairman of the Council of Commissioners | |||||||
13 | Bahij al-Khatib Bahij al-Khatib Bahij al-Khatib was a French-appointed Syrian Head of State from July 10, 1939 to September 16, 1941. He was staunchly loyal to the continued French administration of Syria and opposed all aspirations for independence. Al-Khatib was educated in Mount Lebanon and was an oil merchant in Beirut... |
1895–1981 | 10 July 1939 | 4 April 1941 | French appointee | ||
Presidents | |||||||
14 | Khalid al-Azm Khalid al-Azm Khalid al-Azm was a Syrian national leader and six-time Prime Minister, as well as Acting President... (acting) |
1903–1965 | 4 April 1941 | 16 September 1941 | Independent | ||
15 | Taj al-Din al-Hasani Taj al-Din al-Hasani President Taj al-Din al-Hasani was a French-appointed Syrian leader and politician. He was born and raised into a family of Muslim scholars in Damascus... |
1885–1943 | 16 September 1941 | 17 January 1943 | Independent | ||
16 | Jamil al-Ulshi Jamil al-Ulshi Jamil al-Ulshi was a Syrian politician and acting head of state during the French Mandate era.-Biography:He was born and raised in Damascus, and educated in the Ottoman Military Academy in Istanbul.... (acting) |
1883–1951 | 17 January 1943 | 25 March 1943 | Independent | ||
Head of State | |||||||
17 | Ata al-Ayyubi | 1877–1951 | 25 March 1943 | 17 August 1943 | Independent | ||
President | |||||||
18 | Shukri al-Quwatli (1st time) | 1891–1967 | 17 August 1943 | 17 April 1946 | Syrian National Party |
Syrian RepublicSyriaSyria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
(1946-1958)
# | Name | Picture | Born-Died | Took Office | Left Office | Political Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Presidents | |||||||
18 | Shukri al-Quwatli (1st time) | 1891–1967 | 17 April 1946 | 30 March 1949 | Syrian National Party | ||
19 | Husni al-Za'im Husni al-Za'im Husni al-Za'im was a Syrian military man and politician. Husni al-Za'im, whose family is of Kurdish ancestry, had been an officer in the Ottoman Army. After France instituted its colonial mandate over Syria after the First World War, he became an officer in the French Army... |
1897–1949 | 30 March 1949 | 14 August 1949 | Military/Syrian Social Nationalist Party Syrian Social Nationalist Party The Syrian Social Nationalist Party , is a secular nationalist political party in Lebanon and Syria. It advocates the establishment of a Syrian nation state spanning the Fertile Crescent, including present day Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Israel, Cyprus, Kuwait,... |
||
Chairman of the Supreme Military Council | |||||||
20 | Sami al-Hinnawi Sami al-Hinnawi Colonel Sami Hilmy al-Hinnawi was a Syrian politician and military man. He was born in Aleppo and had sereved in the Ottoman army before serving in the French-Syrian army during the French Mandate of Syria.... |
1898–1950 | 14 August 1949 | 15 August 1949 | Military | ||
Head of State | |||||||
21 | Hashim al-Atassi Hashim al-Atassi Hashim Bay Khalid al-Atassi was a Syrian nationalist, statesman and its President from 1936 to 1939, 1949 to 1951, and 1954 to 1955.- Background and early career :... (2nd time) |
1875–1960 | 15 August 1949 | 2 December 1951 | National Bloc National Bloc (Syria) The National Bloc was a Syrian political party that emerged to fight for Syrian independence during the French Mandate of Syria period.The party was created after a national conference in 1928, by Ibrahim Hananu.... |
||
Chairman of the Supreme Military Council | |||||||
22 | Adib Shishakli Adib Shishakli Adib ibn Hasan Shishakli was a Syrian military leader and President of Syria .Born into a notable Syrian-Kurdish family of Hama, Shishakli served with the French Army during the mandate era... (1st time) |
1909–1964 | 2 December 1951 | 3 December 1951 | Military/Syrian Social Nationalist Party Syrian Social Nationalist Party The Syrian Social Nationalist Party , is a secular nationalist political party in Lebanon and Syria. It advocates the establishment of a Syrian nation state spanning the Fertile Crescent, including present day Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Israel, Cyprus, Kuwait,... |
||
Head of State | |||||||
23 | Fawzi Selu Fawzi Selu Fawzi Selu was a Syrian military leader, politician and head of state .-Career:He studied at the Homs Military Academy and joined the French-sponsored Troupe Speciales that was created when France imposed its League of Nations mandate on Syria in July 1920... |
1905–1972 | 3 December 1951 | 11 July 1953 | Military | ||
Presidents | |||||||
24 | Adib Shishakli Adib Shishakli Adib ibn Hasan Shishakli was a Syrian military leader and President of Syria .Born into a notable Syrian-Kurdish family of Hama, Shishakli served with the French Army during the mandate era... (2nd time) |
1909–1964 | 11 July 1953 | 25 February 1954 | Military/Syrian Social Nationalist Party Syrian Social Nationalist Party The Syrian Social Nationalist Party , is a secular nationalist political party in Lebanon and Syria. It advocates the establishment of a Syrian nation state spanning the Fertile Crescent, including present day Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Israel, Cyprus, Kuwait,... |
||
25 | Maamun al-Kuzbari Maamun al-Kuzbari Maamun al-Kuzbari was a Syrian literary personality, politician and acting head of state from a prominent Damascus family.- Career :... (1st time) |
1914–1998 | 26 February 1954 | 28 February 1954 | Independent | ||
26 | Hashim al-Atassi Hashim al-Atassi Hashim Bay Khalid al-Atassi was a Syrian nationalist, statesman and its President from 1936 to 1939, 1949 to 1951, and 1954 to 1955.- Background and early career :... (3rd time) |
1875–1960 | 28 February 1954 | 6 September 1955 | National Bloc National Bloc (Syria) The National Bloc was a Syrian political party that emerged to fight for Syrian independence during the French Mandate of Syria period.The party was created after a national conference in 1928, by Ibrahim Hananu.... |
||
27 | Shukri al-Quwatli (2nd time) | 1891–1967 | 6 September 1955 | 22 February 1958 | Syrian National Party |
United Arab RepublicUnited Arab RepublicThe United Arab Republic , often abbreviated as the U.A.R., was a sovereign union between Egypt and Syria. The union began in 1958 and existed until 1961, when Syria seceded from the union. Egypt continued to be known officially as the "United Arab Republic" until 1971. The President was Gamal...
(1958-1961)
# | Name | Picture | Born-Died | Took Office | Left Office | Political Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
President | |||||||
28 | Gamal Abdel Nasser Gamal Abdel Nasser Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of... |
1918–1970 | 22 February 1958 | 29 September 1961 | National Union |
Syrian Arab RepublicSyriaSyria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
(1961-Present)
# | Name | Picture | Born-Died | Took Office | Left Office | Political Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Presidents | |||||||
29 | Maamun al-Kuzbari Maamun al-Kuzbari Maamun al-Kuzbari was a Syrian literary personality, politician and acting head of state from a prominent Damascus family.- Career :... (2nd time) |
1914–1998 | 29 September 1961 | 20 November 1961 | Independent | ||
30 | Izzat an-Nuss (acting) | 1900–1972 | 20 November 1961 | 14 December 1961 | Military | ||
31 | Nazim al-Kudsi Nazim al-Kudsi Nazim al-Kudsi, also spelled "Koudsi", "al-Qudsi" or "al-Cudsi" , was a Syrian politician and head of state . He was born in and raised in Aleppo... |
1906–1998 | 14 December 1961 | 8 March 1963 | People's Party People's Party (Syria) People's Party was a Syrian political party that was active during the 1950s and the early 1960s. The party was established in 1948 as the main opposition party to the National Party... |
||
Chairman of the National Revolutionary Command Council | |||||||
32 | Luai al-Atassi Luai al-Atassi Luai al-Atassi was a Syrian military leader and Head of State . He was born in Homs to a politically prominent family, and studied at the Military Academy in that city. He fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and rose to become chief of Military Protocol under his kinsman, President Hashim... |
1926–2003 | 9 March 1963 | 27 July 1963 | Military/Ba'ath Party | ||
Chairman of the Presidential Council | |||||||
33 | Amin al-Hafiz | 1921–2009 | 27 July 1963 | 23 February 1966 | Military/Ba'ath Party | ||
Heads of State | |||||||
34 | Nureddin al-Atassi Nureddin al-Atassi Noureddin Mohammed Ali al-Atassi was President of Syria from February 1966 to November 1970... |
1930–1992 | 25 February 1966 | 18 November 1970 | Military/Ba'ath Party | ||
35 | Ahmad al-Khatib Ahmad al-Khatib Ahmad Hasan al-Khatib was a Syrian politician. He was a ceremonial head of state of Syria appointed by Hafez al-Assad to replace the ousted president Nureddin al-Atassi. al-Khatib was a civilian member of the ruling Baath party and served as president for only four months. His position was... |
1933–1982 | 18 November 1970 | 22 February 1971 | Ba'ath Party | ||
Presidents | |||||||
36 | Hafez al-Assad Hafez al-Assad Hafez ibn 'Ali ibn Sulayman al-Assad or more commonly Hafez al-Assad was the President of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule consolidated the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups, such as Operation Wappen in 1957 conducted by the Eisenhower administration and... |
1930–2000 | 22 February 1971 | 10 June 2000 | Ba'ath Party/National Progressive Front | ||
37 | Abdul Halim Khaddam Abdul Halim Khaddam Abdul Halim Khaddam is a Syrian politician who was Vice President of Syria from 1984 to 2005.-Early life and career:Abdul Halim Khaddam was born on 15 September 1932 in Baniyas, Syria. Abdul Halim was one of the few Sunni Muslims to make it to the top of the Alawite-dominated Syrian leadership... (acting) |
1932– | 10 June 2000 | 17 July 2000 | Ba'ath Party/National Progressive Front | ||
38 | Bashar al-Assad Bashar al-Assad Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :... |
1965– | 17 July 2000 | Incumbent | Ba'ath Party/National Progressive Front |
See also
- List of Vice Presidents of Syria
- List of Prime Ministers of Syria
- List of Presidents of Parliament of Syria
- List of foreign ministers of Syria