Discover

'Cyrenaica' or 'Cirenaica'
(, Arabic: 'برقه', pronounced as: 'Barqah', see Barqah) is the eastern coastal region of Libya and also an ex-province or State ("muhafazah" or "wilayah") of the country (alongside Tripolitania and Fezzan) in an old system of administrative divisions which was abolished in the early 1970s in favour of a system of smaller-size municipality or "baladiyat" (singular "baladiyah"). The "Baladiyat"-system was subsequently changed many times and has lately become "Sha'biyat"-system. What used to be Cyrenaica in the old system is now divided up into several "Sha'biyat", see administrative divisions in ''Libya''. In addition to the eastern coastal region, the ex-Province extended to the south to include South Eastern Libya which has not always been part of historical Cyrenaica (it was not part of Ottoman Cyrenaica for example, hence the restriction to coastal areas in some definitions and maps like the ones on the top of this article). However on maps dating back to prior to the abolishment of the old system and showing the administrative divisions of Libya during the Kingdom, Italian or Ottoman eras (e.g. [1]), Cyrenaica represents the eastern half of Libya (the western half being shared by Tripolitania and Fezzan as seen in the linked map).
The name Cyrenaica is obviously derived from Cyrene a historical city around which the region has evolved), the Arabic name (برقه , pronounced "Barqah" is similar to Barca and might also be related to ''Barneek'' or ''Berenice'', old names of Benghazi, capital of the region in modern times.
Kufra, a vital oasis for overland travel is situated amid the desertous southern part of the ex-Province of Cyrenaica.

Contents

Ancient history

Muslim and modern history

See also

References

External links

Ancient history

Cyrenaica was a Roman province on the northern coast of Africa between Egypt and Numidia, and also included the island of Rhodes; In antiquity, it had been an area heavily colonised by the Greeks. That area is now the eastern part of the Mediterranean coast of Libya.
The east of the province was called Marmarica (no major city), but the important part was in the west, comprizing five cities, hence known as the Pentapolis— Cyrene (near the village of Shahat) with its port of Apollonia (Marsa Susa), Arsinoe (Tocra), Berenice (modern Benghazi) and Barca (Merj)— of which the chief was the eponymous Cyrene. After the earthquake of 365 the capital was moved to Ptolemais. In the south Cyrenaica faded into the Saharan tribal areas, including the pharaonic oracle Ammonium.
Conquered by Alexander the Great, it passed to the diadoch dynasty of the Lagids, better known as the Ptolemaic dynasty. It briefly gained independence under Magas, stepson of Ptolemy I Soter, but was reabsorbed into the Ptolemaic empire after the death of Magas. It was separated from the main kingdom by Ptolemy VIII and given to his son Ptolemy Apion, who, dying without heirs in 96 BC, bequeathed it to the Roman Republic. It became a senatorial province in 20 BC, like its far more prominent western neighbour Africa proconsularis, unlike Egypt itself which became an imperial domain ''sui generis'' (under a special governor style Praefectus Augustalis) in 30 BC.
Although some confusion exists as to the exact territory Rome inherited, by 78 BC it was organised as one administrative province with Crete. The Tetrarchy reforms of Diocletian in 296 changed all of the administrative structure. Cyrenaica was split into two provinces: 'Libya superior' comprized the abvementioned Pentapolis, 'Libya Inferior' Marmarica (only significant city now the port Paraetonium), each under a governor of the modest rank of ''praeses''. Both belonged to the same diocese (originally as part of Oriens) as Egypt itself (from the start three provinces, later more), within the praetorian prefecture of Oriens (also comprizing Oriens proper—mainly Syria—and, both in Asia Minor, Asiana and Pontiana). Its western neighbour Tripolitania, the largest split-off from Africa proconsularis, became part of Africa, a diocese of the western emperor's home prefecture "Italia et Africa"
Under Byzantium it remained the westernmost regular area in North Africa, while Tripolitania was part of the more militarized prefecture -later exarchate- Africa (reconquered from the Arian Vandal kingdom).

Muslim and modern history

Cyrenaica was conquered by the Islamic Arabs during the tenure of the second caliph, Omer Bin Khattab, in 643/44,[[2]] and became known as 'Barka' after its new provincial capital, the ancient Barca. After the breakdown of the Ummayad caliphate, it was essentially annexed to Egypt, although still under the same name, under the Fatimid caliphs and later under the Ayyubid and Mamluk sultanates.
Ultimately, it was annexed by the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1517 (it was mentioned in the full style of the Great Sultan as the vilayet of Barka, alongside Tripoli, with which it had been joined); its main cities became Bengazi and Derna.
The Italians occupied Cyrenaica during the Italo-Turkish War in 1911 and declared the protectorate of 'Cirenaica' on 15 October 1912,. Three days later, the Ottoman Empire officially ceded the province to Italy. On 17 May 1919, Cirenaica was established as an Italian colony, and, on 25 October 1920, the Italian government recognized Sheikh Sidi Idriss as the leader of the Senussi, who was granted the rank of Emir until in 1929, when Italy derecognized him and the Senussi.
On 1 January 1934, Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan were united as the Italian colony of Libya.
After the overthrow of the al-Sanussi dynasty by Colonel Gaddafi, Cyrenaica has occasionally witnessed anti-regime, nationalist activity, such as a military rebellion at Tobruk in 1980.^[1]

See also

★ List of Kings of Cyrene

★ 1911 Treaty of Lausanne

★ Cyrenaics philosophical school

References

★ Westermann ''Grosser Atlas zur Weltgeschichte'' (in German).
1. Associated Press, 'Libyan Opposition to Khadafy Growing but Fragmented Says Expert,' 17 April 1986.

External links

★ Cyrene and the Cyrenaica.

★ ''Cyrenaica in Antiquity'' (Society for Libyan Studies Occasional Papers). Graeme Barker, John Lloyd, Joyce Reynolds ISBN 0-86054-303-X

★ Lexiorient.com's article on Cyrenaica.

★ Cyrenaica's Page on Encarta Online (encarta.msn.com).

★ Dynamic map of Cyrenaica on Encarta Online (encarta.msn.com).

★ Dynamic map of Cyrenaica on Google Maps.

★ Worldstatesmen.org's History and list of rulers of Tripolitania, Cyrenaica.

★ Hostkingdom.net's History and list of rulers of Cyrenaica.

★ Zum.de's History of Cyrenaica.