The
House of Hashim, better known as the
Hashemites (,
al-Hashimiyun; also "Hashimites" or "Hashimids"), are the royal family of the
Hejaz (1916–1925),
Iraq (1921–1958), and
Jordan (1921–present). The family belongs to the Dhawu Awn, one of the branches of the
Hasanid Sharifs of Mecca – also referred to as Hashemites – who ruled
Mecca continuously from the 10th century until its conquest by the
House of Saud in 1924. Their eponymous ancestor is
Hashim ibn Abd Manaf, great-grandfather of the Islamic prophet,
Muhammad. The current dynasty was founded by
Sharif Hussein ibn Ali, who was appointed as
Sharif and Emir of Mecca by
Sultan Abdul Hamid II in 1908, then in 1916 was proclaimed King of the Arab Lands (but only recognized as King of the Hejaz) after initiating the
Arab Revolt against the
Ottoman Empire. His sons
Abdullah and
Faisal were awarded the thrones of Jordan and Iraq in 1921.