Signup to become a member and enjoy updates
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi was a Libyan revolutionary and political leader who ruled Libya from 1969 until his assassination in 2011. He came to power through a military coup, overthrowing the monarchy of King Idris. Initially advocating Arab nationalism, he later developed his own political ideology, the Third International Theory, outlined in The Green Book. Gaddafi transformed Libya into a socialist state, nationalized the oil industry, and implemented social reforms such as housing, healthcare, and education. He supported global revolutionary movements but faced international isolation due to controversial actions, including alleged involvement in terrorism. His rule ended following a civil war and NATO intervention, leading to his capture and death by rebel forces.
ZODIAC ELEMENTS
Ascendant:
Sun-Sign:
Moon-Sign:
COLONEL MUAMMAR GADDAFI
Muammar Abu Meniar el-Gaddafi was born in June 7, 1942 in the desert region south of Sirte, Libya, to a poor Bedouin family. The exact date of his birth remains uncertain, with sources citing either June 1 or a later date in September. He grew up in his family’s remote desert camp until he moved to attend school at the age of nine. His time at secondary school in Sebha marked a turning point, as he became inspired by the speeches of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, embracing Arab nationalism. Gaddafi organized revolutionary study groups among his peers, continuing this practice when he enrolled at the University of Libya in Tripoli, where he earned a degree in history in 1963.
After graduation, Gaddafi entered the Libyan Military Academy in Benghazi, where he found that many fellow cadets shared his anti-Western sentiments. By 1965, he had joined the Libyan army, and he soon began to lay the groundwork for a coup against the ruling monarch, King Idris, whom he viewed as a puppet of Western powers. By 1969, Gaddafi had gained control of the army, and on September 1, he successfully led a coup that ousted the king. Gaddafi assumed the position of chairman of the Revolutionary Council, declaring himself commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces. In the years following his rise to power, he nationalized the country’s foreign-owned banks and oil companies, expelled foreign military forces, and seized the private property of Italian and Jewish residents.
Throughout his rule, Gaddafi gained a reputation for supporting a variety of militant groups and regimes across the globe, including those in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Uganda, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Irish Republican Army. His support of terrorism led to strained relations with the West, particularly with the United States. One of the most notorious incidents was the 1986 bombing of Gaddafi’s headquarters in Tripoli by the US in retaliation for Libyan involvement in terrorist attacks. Though Gaddafi survived the bombing, his infant daughter was tragically killed. Another high-profile attack, the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, claimed over 200 lives and further isolated Libya.
Despite his continued backing of militant actions, Gaddafi shifted his stance after the September 11 attacks in 2001. Seeking improved relations with the West, he offered assistance in combating Islamic militants, leading to a gradual easing of international sanctions and the normalization of diplomatic ties.
However, his rule came to an abrupt and violent end during the Arab Spring in 2011. Faced with widespread protests and unrest, Gaddafi responded with brutal force, triggering a civil war. The conflict, which pitted his loyalist forces against a coalition of rebels, including defectors from the military and ordinary citizens, was supported by NATO airstrikes. After months of fighting, Gaddafi was captured by rebel forces in his hometown of Sirte, and he was executed shortly thereafter.
Reference:
GOVERNING TIME LINE
Muammar Gaddafi assumed power in Libya on September 1, 1969, following a military coup that overthrew King Idris I. Gaddafi, then a 27-year-old lieutenant, led the coup under the banner of the Free Officers Movement, citing the need to end the monarchy's corruption and improve the living conditions of ordinary Libyans. Gaddafi ruled Libya for nearly 42 years, during which he implemented a unique form of governance based on his "Third International Theory," as outlined in his Green Book.
Gaddafi was ousted on October 20, 2011, during the Libyan Civil War, after months of intense protests and NATO intervention. He was captured and killed by rebel forces in his hometown of Sirte, marking the end of his regime.