Gaddafi Seizes Libya: A Revolution Begins
A group of junior military officers led by 27-year-old Captain Muammar al-Gaddafi seized control of Libya on September 1, 1969, while King Idris was receiving medical treatment in Turkey. The bloodless coup abolished the monarchy and established a republic with Gaddafi as its undisputed leader. He initially modeled his government on Nasser's Egypt, then developed his own eccentric political philosophy outlined in his "Green Book." Gaddafi nationalized the oil industry, expelled the Italian settler community, and funded revolutionary movements across Africa and the Middle East. He ruled for 42 years, making him one of the longest-serving non-royal leaders in history, before being killed during the 2011 Libyan civil war.
September 1, 1969
57 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on September 1
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