King Faisal I Statue

In the heart of Baghdad, precisely in a square that carries the monarchical memory of Iraq, the statue of King Faisal I has stood tall since 1933 as one of the most prominent sculptural landmarks in the country.

It was crafted by the Italian sculptor Canonica, and the statue elegantly and precisely embodies the figure of Faisal bin Al-Hussein, the first King of Iraq after independence, and one of the most influential Arab leaders of the 20th century.

The statue reflects finely detailed features and posture, showcasing the political stature and leadership presence of a king who led the birth of the modern Iraqi state, after a rich journey that began in Hijaz, passed through Damascus, and ended in Baghdad, across fields of war, revolution, and diplomacy.

He was born in Taif, raised among Bedouin tribes, and learned horsemanship and Turkish under the Ottoman Empire. He later traveled to Istanbul with his father Sharif Hussein bin Ali, where he studied Turkish, English, and French, and married his cousin Hazima. He returned to Mecca in 1909, where his father assigned him to lead Arab battalions to suppress revolts. He was then elected as a representative of Jeddah in the Ottoman Parliament, which gave him early political experience, qualifying him to lead the northern army in the Great Arab Revolt that his father launched in 1916 against Ottoman rule.

Faisal, along with his officers — including Lawrence of Arabia — achieved a series of victories, culminating in the capture of Aqaba, and then the march toward Damascus, which he entered in 1918 to a celebratory welcome, where he declared an independent Arab government and was crowned King of Greater Syria in 1920.

However, colonial powers did not allow the new state to survive. France issued the Gouraud ultimatum, demanding the dissolution of the army and dismantling of the country. Its forces advanced toward Damascus, leading to the Battle of Maysalun, heroically fought by Minister of War Yusuf Al-‘Azma, who was martyred in battle.

The French entered the capital and deposed King Faisal, who departed Damascus to Europe.

He was later nominated at the Cairo Conference in 1921 to be King of Iraq after the 1920 Revolution, where he was elected with 96% of the popular vote, and crowned on August 23, 1921, in Al-Qishla Square in Baghdad, becoming the first king of the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq and leading the country toward independence by signing the 1930 treaty with Britain, which paved the way for Iraq’s entry into the League of Nations as an independent state.

King Faisal I was known for his wisdom and moderation. He combined an understanding of tribal traditions with an awareness of modern global changes. He founded state institutions, encouraged education, participated in drafting laws, and maintained balance among Iraq’s diverse communities.

However, his health began to deteriorate, and he traveled to Switzerland in 1933 for medical treatment, where he died suddenly on September 8, amidst widespread suspicions regarding the circumstances of his death.

Newspapers spoke of the possibility of poisoning by political or intelligence entities, especially since Swiss medical reports had confirmed his health two days prior to his death.

Other accounts claimed that the British nurse overseeing him may have poisoned his drink.

Nevertheless, the official cause of death was recorded as “arteriosclerosis.” His body was transported from Switzerland to Italy, then Palestine, and finally to Baghdad, where he was honorably buried in the royal cemetery in Adhamiyah.

In his final moments, he reportedly said:

“I have done my duty; let the nation live on — in happiness, strength, and unity.”

Today, the statue of King Faisal I stands not as a mere classical sculpture, but as a witness to a great era of Arab transformation, and a symbol of a man who was both a desert revolutionary and a builder of the modern state — a Bedouin knight and a founder of institutions.

He remains alive in the memory of Baghdad, through this statue that stands not just in a public square, but in the hearts of those who know that Iraq would not be what it is today without the patience and vision of Faisal I.