Tripoli (region, Libya)

Tripoli (region, Libya) or Tarabulus (region, Libya) (ancient Tripolis), historic region of north-western Libya, extending some 800 km (500 mi) along the Mediterranean Sea. The coast is low and sandy, except in the north-east, where it is mountainous; the interior is elevated. The inhabitants are chiefly Arabs. The principal products are salt, barley, and diversified tropical crops; sheep farming is also important. Modern oil refineries are in the vicinity as well as cotton gins, tanneries, and soap factories.

Colonized by the Phoenicians in the 7th century bc, Tripoli later formed a portion of the territory of the Carthaginians. Following the Punic Wars, it passed to Rome, which included it within the province of Cyrenaica. The region was conquered by the Vandals in the 5th century ad, by the Byzantines in the 6th century, and by the Arabs in the 7th century. During the 12th century, the Normans of Sicily sacked the region, and in 1510 the city of Tripoli was captured by King Ferdinand V of Castile. In 1530 Ferdinand gave control of the city to the Knights of St John of Jerusalem who were ousted in 1551 by Turkish corsairs. From that time until 1912 Tripoli formed part of the Ottoman Empire, although the authority of the sultan before 1835 was almost negligible. During that period Tripoli was a piratical stronghold. In consequence, it was attacked by successive expeditions of European countries, the vessels and citizens of which had been victims of Barbary piracy (see Tripolitan War).

Turkish rule of Tripoli was reasserted in 1835, and the region was made a vilayet, or administrative district, of the Ottoman Empire. In 1911 the Italo-Turkish War broke out, and according to the terms of the Treaty of Lausanne, which ended the war in 1912, Italian sovereignty in Tripoli was recognized. In 1934 Tripoli was made a part of the Italian colony of Libya, which was incorporated by Mussolini into the Kingdom of Italy in 1939. Following the expulsion of Italian and German forces in World War II Tripoli was placed under British administration. It became part of the independent nation of Libya in 1951.