House of Shennib

Shennib
Flag of Cyrenaica, Libyan Royal Court
Current regionCyrenaica, Libya
Place of originAndalusia, Spain
Founded1492, (following Alhambra Decree)
FounderOmar Faiek Shennib(d. 1951)
MembersOmar Faiek Shennib
Ahmed Fouad Shennib
Abdul-Aziz Shennib
Connected familiesKingdom of Libya, Senussi(Arabic: السنوسية)
Estate(s)Bayt Shennib, Cyrenaica

The House of Shennib (Arabic: بيت شنيب Bayt Shennib) is one of Libya's prominent families. The House of Shennib includes notable public figures who have played a significant part in 20th century Libyan history: heads of state, ministers, authors and diplomats. The family's history is intrinsically tied with the creation of the State of Libya with members of Bayt Shennib playing prominent roles in the defeat of colonial Italian Libya, the creation of the unified Libyan state after World War II.[1] The most notable members of the family include Omar Faiek Shennib, Ahmed Fouad Shennib, Wanis al-Qaddafi (no relation to Muamar Gaddafi) and Abdul-Aziz Shennib. The historical seat of Bayt Shennib is Derna, Cyrenaica.

On April 3, 2013 the family's significant contributions to the Libyan people were publicly recognized by the current Libyan government and their honors restored, if in name only.[2]

The area of Bi'r`Ayt Shinnib west of Derna is named after the family.

  1. ^ Omar Al Mukhtar Historical Society, Historical Archive,
  2. ^ Omar Al Mukhtar Historical Society, Official Publication, 4 April 2013