People in Jordan

TE Lawrence (of Arabia)
Famous for the exploits detailed in his book, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, TE Lawrence, was a belligerent character, who found service in the British Army in World War I suffocating. His empathy with Arab leaders led to his appointment as the British liaison officer for the Arab Revolt. He inspired tremendous loyalty in the Arabs under his command and their feats of endurance in the desert, and subsequent military triumphs against the Turks, secured his name in legend. His fame reached a zenith with the capture of the gulf port of Aquaba, after a forced camel trek that was said to be impossible. Lawrence appeared triumphant in Cairo four days later, to the astonishment of his superiors.

Salah ad Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin)
Perhaps the most famous Arab commander and military tactician, Salah ad Din, or Saladin - as he is known in western literature - was the great rival to the crusader, Richard the Lionheart. Born in 1138, Saladin’s first great triumph was the overthrow of the last Fatimid Caliph of Cairo in 1171 and it was not long before Mosul, Beirut, Aleppo, Homs, Hama and Damascus all submitted to his leadership. Successfully marshalling the divided Muslim nations under one banner, he defeated the crusaders at Hattin and took Jerusalem in 1187. He then showed an unfashionable restraint by allowing freedom of worship to Muslims, Jews and Christians alike. The city was not retaken until some time after his death in 1193.

King Hussein bin Talal
The father of King Abdullah I - the current king - King Hussein is considered to be the father of modern Jordan. His reputation, at home and abroad, was of the highest calibre and served him well on the international stage. Responsible for Jordan's climate of stability and tolerance during a difficult period, King Hussein was, at his death, the longest serving executive head of state in the world. More importantly, for Arabs, Hussein was the 42nd direct descendant of the prophet Mohammed. He was educated in Jordan and England, attending both Harrow and Sandhurst. He also survived an assassination attempt that killed his grandfather in 1951, the bullet deflecting off a medal.