The Republic of Tripolitania

Before colonel Gadaffi seized power in 1969 Libya was a federation consisting of three parts: Tripolitania, Fezzan and Cyrenaica. The cities of Tripoli and Benghazi served alternately as the national capital.

Map of Tripolitania

Tripolitania, the region around Tripoli, was originally colonized by the Phoenicians and was under the influence of the Carthagians and Romans in antiquity. In the 20th century it was the first Arab Republic to declare independence under the name Tripolitanian Republic (1918-1923) (in Arab: Al-Jumhuriya al-Trabulsiya).

Flag of the Tripolitanian Republic

Later Italians seized power and administrated it as a separate colony.

Stamp of the colony of Tripolitania

On 1 January 1934, Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan were united as the Italian colony of Libya.

next episode: Cyrenaica