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| Tripoli is
the capital of Libya and of Tripoli district, north west Libya and
a port on the Mediterranean Sea. Located on the edge of a large oasis,
the city was founded (probably in the 7th century B.C.) as Oea by
Phoenicians from Tyre. The main city of the historic region of Tripolitania,
it was later captured by the Romans (1st century B.C.), the Vandals
(5th century A.D.), and the Arabs (7th century). The city was a terminus
of important trans-Saharan caravan routes. Captured in 1510 by the
Spanish, Tripoli was granted (1528) to the Knights of St. John, who
held it until 1551, when it was taken by the Ottoman Turks. From 1711
to 1835, Tripoli was the seat of the Karamanli dynasty, which ruled
most of what later became Libya with little control from Constantinople.
The city was a major base of the Barbary pirates, whom the United
States fought (1801 5) in the Tripolitan War. In 1911, Tripoli passed
to Italy, and later it was made the capital of the Italian colony
of Libya. During World War II, the city was captured (1943) by the
British. Points of interest in the city include remains of the Roman
walls and an arch of Marcus Aurelius. Of note also are the Karamanli
mosque (begun 1736), the large Gurgi mosque (19th century), and the
former royal palace. |
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el Emad towers / Tripoli |
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