Why did the Hashemites use the title of King (malik) instead of Emir? Was the title of King ever used by Arab leaders before WWI?

by mbraganza

Abdullah I was first Emir of Transjordania (1921-46), and then King of Jordania (1946-51). Similarly, his brother Faisal I was King of Iraq.

My friend, who studies Arabic, said "emir" denotes a political/military leader who doesn't need necessarily to be independent. I wonder, therefore, if the Hashemites adopted "Malik" to represent their independence, and if any Arab leader even used the term before them.

feartrich

To strictly answer your second question, Hussein bin Ali of Hejaz ruled as a malik in 1916. I think it's an old old Semitic term implying any kind of lord, but has become much more prestigious in the 20th century.