Talal of Jordan

Talal became King of Jordan on September 6, 1951, after the assassination of his father, Abdullah I. His reign was brief, lasting less than a year, during which he attempted to implement constitutional reforms and improve relations with Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Talal oversaw the adoption of a new constitution in January 1952, which transformed Jordan into a constitutional monarchy. The constitution established a parliamentary system with a prime minister and cabinet responsible to the elected parliament.

Talal was forced to abdicate on August 11, 1952, after a medical commission declared him mentally unfit to rule due to schizophrenia. He was succeeded by his son Hussein, who was only 17 at the time, with a regency council appointed.

After his abdication, Talal lived in exile in Turkey and later in a sanatorium in Switzerland. He died on July 7, 1972, in Istanbul, Turkey, largely forgotten by the Jordanian public. His remains were returned to Jordan for burial.