Farouk, King of Egypt & the Sudan The son and successor of Fuad I. Farouk's period of personal rule (1937 onwards) was brought to an end by English pressure, the English seeking to counter-balance Italian intrigues in Egyptian politics and Farouk's leaning towards the Axis powers. In 1942 Farouk was forced to accept Nahas Pacha as Prime Minister. Farouk's weakness during this crisis help fuel Egyptian nationalism, fomented after the defeat of Italy and Germany, by the USSR, and in 1952 the "free officers" of the Army under the leadership of Negib and Nasser carried out a coup-d'état which forced Farouk to abdicate. In exile in Europe, Farouk was a well-known figure in all the most fashionable Casinos and night clubs. Farouk had been an inveterate collector particularly of small applied art objects. Among his extensive collection of "objects of vertu" were a range of watches, primarily enamelled examples of the period 1780 and 1820 with music and - very frequently - erotic scenes. Watches for the Turkish and Far Eastern markets were also well represented as were watches associated with notable near Eastern personalities and products of the Fabergé workshop. Farouk was also very fond of modern watches, whether wrist or pocket watches, by the most prestigious makers and whenever he had to make a gift, more often than not, it would be a watch.