Revenue from petroleum exports moved the United Kingdom of Libya from being one of the world's poorest nations, to becoming a wealthy state. However, resentment began to build over the increased concentration of the nation's wealth in the hands of King Idris. This discontent grew with the rise of Arab nationalism throughout North Africa and the Middle East (CIA).
Gaddafi's Rise to Power in Libya .
From the beginning Colonel Muammar Al-Gaddafi was searching for a way to rule Libya under his political beliefs. During the Libyan Revolution of nineteen sixty nine through nineteen seventy two Muammar al-Gaddafi would rise to power and ultimately become the dictator of Libya. He was never elected or nominated for the position of being head of Libya. Instead he took matters into his own hands. Gaddafi was born in June nineteen forty two in a tent near Sirte; he was the son of a Bedouin farmer (CNN). Before joining the military, Gaddafi studied at the University of Libya. He assumed the leadership of Libya in nineteen sixty nine after overthrowing King Idris with a group of revolutionary army officers (Huffington). .
Gaddafi carried himself with pride and lived a lavish lifestyle. He wore flamboyant military uniforms or tribal robes that played up his Bedouin roots. He sported trademark sunglasses, and surrounded himself with an eye-catching female security element. (Huffington) An example of this took place on a 2009 visit to Italy, where he invited two hundred models to his ambassador's house, paying each seventy five dollars to listen to lectures on Islam and giving each a copy of the Quran (CIA). It all began in August of nineteen sixty nine when King Idris of Libya was in Turkey for medical treatment. On September first nineteen sixty nine a group of about seventy junior Libyan military officers lead by Muammar Gaddafi took the opportunity to stage a bloodless overthrow of the king (CNN).