Irbid Governorate
| Irbid Governorate (محافظة إربد) | |
| Governorate | |
 Irbid Governorate
|
|
| Country | Jordan |
|---|---|
| Subdivisions |
9
|
| Cities | Ar Ramtha, Um Qais |
| Capital | Irbid |
| - coordinates | 32°33′0″N 35°51′0″E / 32.55000°N 35.85000°ECoordinates: 32°33′0″N 35°51′0″E / 32.55000°N 35.85000°E |
| Area | 1,572 km2 (607 sq mi) |
| Population | 1.770.000 (2015) |
| Density | 1,125/km2 (2,914/sq mi) |
| Governor | Radwan Otoum |
| Timezone | GMT +2 |
| - summer (DST) | +3 |
| Area code | +(962)2 |
| Urban | 82.9% |
| Rural | 17.1% |
| Website: www.irbidjordan.com | |
Irbid or Irbed (Arabic: إربد) is a governorate of Jordan, located north of Amman, the country's capital. The capital of the governorate is the city of Irbid. The governorate has the second largest population in Jordan after Amman Governorate, and the highest population density in the country.
Irbid was distinguished by the Greek, Roman and Islamic civilizations leaving behind them historical and archaeological sites. Roman and Greek cities such as Arabella (Irbid), Capitolias (Beit–Ras), Dion (Al Hisn) that contains the Roman artificial hill and small Roman lake (water reservoir), Gadara (Umm Qais), Pella (Tabeqt Fahel) and Abila (Qwailbeh) were established. They were members of the Decapolis: a pact that consists of the ten Roman cities in the area. Ghassanids had established their country in the north of Jordan covering Irbid, Golan and Horan plains. It was described as the most beautiful Syrian countries. Also it had the Islamic soldiers’ supplies. Christianity spread out there in the second and the third century A.D.
Irbid witnessed the Edomite and Ammonite civilizations. Its significance was reflected in the Hellenistic period. With the conversion work of Islam, the Islamic opening armies achieved an advance. As a result, Sharhabeel Bin Hasnaa made a glorious Islamic victory in 13 A.H (634 A.D.). He opened Irbid, Beit-Ras and Umm Qais. The Islamic leader Abu Obideh Amer Bin Al-Jarrah was able to open Pella. In 15 A.H. (636 A.D.) and in the prime of these victories, Khalid Bin Al-Walid managed to crush out the Roman armies in the long Battle of Yarmouk. Consequently, he managed to put an end to the Roman presence in the area. In 583 A.H (1187 A.D.) Saladin’s armies advanced to Hittin in which the most ferocious battle in the history of the Crusades took place, This battle was followed by recapturing Jerusalem and returning it back to the Islamic sovereignty.
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