King of Iraq (1921–33). The son of Hussein Ibn Ali, he commanded the northern Arab army in Jordan, Palestine, and Syria in association with T. E. Lawrence in the Arab Revolt of 1916–18. In 1920 Faisal was chosen King of Syria by the Syrian National Congress but was expelled by France, the mandatory power. He was then made King of Iraq by Britain, who held the mandate for that territory. As ruler of Iraq (1921–33) he demonstrated considerable political skill in building up the institutions of the new state.