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Benghazi - History |
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When Libya achieved its independence in 24 December 1951 Benghazi became the second capital of Libya (the first was Tripoli.) During World War II Benghazi was bombed more than 1,000 times and saw a lot of destruction. After Libya's independence the city was rebuilt and became one the most attractive cities in North Africa. |
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Benghazi
is an old city on the Mediterranean North East Libya. Benghazi's old name
(given to her in the year 347 B.C.) was "Barneek" which is the
name of a beautiful and brave princess who became the queen of her people
during the Greek rule of the North African region. Benghazi saw good times
and bad times during the Hellenic, the Roman and the Byzantine eras before
the Arabs conquered the city in the the beginning of the 7th century.
In
1450 a man named Ghazi or "Seedi Ghazi" as the locals called him
moved to "Barneek" and died there after contributing good deeds
to the city and to her people, so the people named the city after him
"Bani Ghazi", "Banghazi" or "Benghazi". In
1578 the Turks invaded Benghazi and it was ruled by the Karamanlis from
1711 till 1835 when the Ottomans started their rule of the city till 1911.
The
Italians invaded Benghazi and the whole country of Libya in October 1911
and the city became under the Italian occupation till 1942 when the Allied
forces defeated the Italians with the help of the Libyans and the city
became under the rule of the British till 1949 when King Mohammed "Idris"
As-Sanousi made Benghazi the capital of Barka (Cyrinaica).
