King Muhammad Fareed Didi (1901–1969) , the son of the Sultan Prince Abdul Majeed Didi (Al Munthakhab Liarshi Dhaulathil Mahaldheebiyya). Muhammed Fareed Didi was the last
SultanSultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
of
MaldivesThe Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
and the first Maldivian Monarch to assume the title of "King" with the style of "Your Majesty". He was the Sultan of Maldives from March 7, 1954 until November 11, 1968. He was deposed in 1968 from the throne when Maldives became a republic, and died the following year.
Early years
He studied at the prestigious
Royal College ColomboThe Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
in Ceylon. After spending 7 years in Ceylon (
Sri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
), he came back and became the prime minister of Sultan Hassan Nooraddine II on December 16, 1932.
Reign
After the fall of President
Mohamed Amin DidiAl Ameer Mohamed Amin Dhoshimeynaa Kilegefaanu , popularly known as Mohamed Amin Didi was a Maldivian political figure. He served as the first president of the Maldives and as the head of government between January 1, 1953 and August 21, 1953...
a referendum was held and 98% of the people voted in favour of the monarchy and the country was again declared a Sultanate. And so a new peoples majilis was elected as the former peoples majilis was dissolved after the revolution.The members of the special majilis decided to take a secret vote to elect a sultan and Prince Mohammed Fareed Didi was elected as the 84th Sultan in 1954. His first Prime minister was Ehgamugey Ibraahim Ali Didi (later Ibraahim Faamuladheyri Kilegefaan). On December 11, 1957, the prime minister was forced to resign and Velaanagey Ibraahim Nasir was elected as the new prime minister the following day.
On November 15, 1967 a vote was taken in parliament to decide whether Maldives should have a monarchy or a republic. Of the 44 parliamentarians, 40 voted in favour of a republic. On March 15, 1968, a referendum was held on and 93.34% of the people voted in favour of establishing a republic. The republic was declared on November 11, 1968 and thus ending the 853 year old Monarchy.
Post-deposition & death
After his deposition from the throne, the King left the royal palace and retired to his own residence (Maabagychaage, now the parliament house) in Henveru ward. He died on May 27, 1969 in
MaléMalé , is the capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives. It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll . It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where...
. He was given a state funeral and was buried in the Galolhu Cemetery.
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