1969 Libyan coup d'état
The 1969 Libyan coup d'état, also known as the Libyan Revolution of 1969 or the 1 September Revolution, was a military coup d'état executed in Libya by the Free Officers Movement, a group of rebel military officers led by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, that led to the overthrow of King Idris of Libya.
Background
The discovery of significant oil reserves in 1959 and the subsequent income from petroleum sales enabled the Kingdom of Libya to transition from one of the world's poorest nations to a wealthy state. Although oil drastically improved the Libyan government's finances, resentment began to build over the increased concentration of the nation's wealth in the hands of King Idris. This discontent mounted with the rise of Nasserism and Arab nationalism/socialism throughout Arab world.
Coup
On 1 September 1969, a group of about 70 young army officers known as the Free Officers Movement and enlisted men mostly assigned to the Signal Corps seized control of the government and, in a stroke, abolished the Libyan monarchy. The coup was launched at Benghazi; and, within two hours, the takeover was completed. Army units quickly rallied in support of the coup and, within a few days, firmly established military control in Tripoli and elsewhere throughout the country. Popular reception of the coup, especially by younger people in the urban areas, was enthusiastic. Fears of resistance in Cyrenaica and Fezzan proved unfounded. No deaths or violent incidents related to the coup were reported.
