TRIPOLI

Latin Tripolis, Arabic Tarabulus, in full Tarabulus Ash-sham (The Eastern Tripoli), city and port, northwestern Lebanon. It lies on the Mediterranean coast at the mouth of the Abu 'Ali River, 40 miles (65 km) north-northeast of Beirut. Founded after 700 BC, it became in the Persian period (300 BC) the capital for the Phoenician triple federation of city-statesSidon, Tyre, and Arvad (Aradus). Later, Tripoli was controlled by the Seleucids, then by the Romans, and, from about AD 638, by the Muslims. Besieged and partially destroyed during the First Crusade, in the early 12th century, by Raymond of Saint-Gilles (count of Toulouse), the city was rebuilt by the later crusaders and prospered for a time as the seat of a Latin bishopric and as a commercial and educational centre. In 1289 Tripoli was destroyed by the Mamluks, a Muslim dynasty of Egypt and Syria, which controlled the city until 1516, when it came under Ottoman rule. The new settlement that later arose was built a few miles inland and was connected by broad avenues to the port district. Long disputed by rival Syrian princes, it was occupied by the Egyptians under Ibrahim Pasha in the 1830s and was taken by the British in World War I. It was incorporated into the State of Greater Lebanon (Grand Liban) in 1920. During World War II, the city was occupied by the British and Free French, and in 1946 it became part of the independent Republic of Lebanon. Principally Muslim, Tripoli was a centre of insurrection against the Christian-dominated central government in 1958 and again in 197576. In 198283 Tripoli was briefly a headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Syrian soldiers occupied the city from 1985. The city's economy, which was gravely disrupted by the civil war from 1975, began to recover from the late 1980s. Tripoli has become Lebanon's second city. It is a major port, a commercial and industrial centre, and a popular beach resort. The city serves as an important oil storage and refining centre. Other industries include the manufacture of soap and cotton goods, sponge fishing, and the processing of tobacco and fruits. A coastal railway, which was closed in the mid-1970s because of the civil war, links the city with Beirut. Historical landmarks include Teylan Mosque (1336), the Great Mosque (1294), the medieval castle of Saint Gilles, and the Tower of the Lions, built at the end of the 15th century to protect the port. Pop. (1985 est.) 500,000. Arabic Tarabulus, in full Tarabulus Al-gharb (The Western Tripoli) capital city of Libya. Situated in northwestern Libya along the Mediterranean coast, it is the nation's largest city and chief seaport. The city was known as Oea in ancient times and was one of the original cities (along with Sabratha and Leptis Magna) that formed the African Tripolis, or Tripolitania (q.v.). Occupying a rocky promontory overlooking the sea and located due south of Sicily, the city was founded by the Phoenicians and later controlled by the Romans (146 BC until about AD 450), the Vandals (5th century), and the Byzantines (6th century). During the invasions by the Vandals the walls of the cities of Sabratha and Leptis Magna were destroyed, and this resulted in the growth of Tripoli, which had previously been the least important of the three cities. Conquered by Arab warriors of the Prophet Muhammad in 645, the city subsequently remained under Arab control (except from 1146 to 1158, when it was taken by Sicilian Normans). It was stormed by the Spanish in 1510 and was conquered by the Turks in 1551, after which it was made a colonial capital of the Ottoman Empire. From 1911 to 1943 it was in Italian hands, and from then until Libya's independence in 1951 it was occupied by the British. The city is divided into old and new quarters. The ancient walled city, or medina, lies along the harbour and is dominated by a 16th-century Spanish castle. The old quarter contains the marble Marcus Aurelius triumphal arch (AD 163) and the mosques of Gurgi (1883) and Karamanli (18th century), with its distinctive octagonal minaret. The En-Naqah Mosque, often called the camel mosque, dates from the Middle Ages to the 17th century. Many historical structures benefited from restoration programs in the late 20th century. The modern city, which experienced rapid growth from the 1970s, houses many of the official buildings, theatres, and hotels, as well as the former royal palace. Al-Fateh University, founded in 1973, replaced the former University of Libya. Tripoli is a major coastal oasis serving a region growing olives, vegetables, citrus fruit, tobacco, and grains. Fishing is important, and several canneries in the city process the catch. Tripoli's industries include tanning and the manufacture of cigarettes and carpets. An oil depot and a gas-bottling plant are also located there. With its port, nearby international airport, and road connections (a coastal highway links it with Bangh azi and Cairo), it is a busy transshipment centre. Tripoli is the centre of the most densely populated region of Libya; within the city and its environs reside more than 1,000,000 people. Pop. (1964) 213,506; (1988 est.) 591,062.