Overview
Imam Abdullah bin Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud was the last imam of the First Saudi State.[1] He assumed rule after the death of his father, Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz, over the period 1229–1233 AH/1814–1818.[1]
The First Saudi State was established in 1139 AH/1727 after Imam Muhammad bin Saud assumed the emirate of Diriyah and proclaimed its founding, and Diriyah was taken as its capital.[4]
Accession and Length of Rule
Imam Abdullah bin Saud assumed the rule of the First Saudi State after the death of his father, Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz, and his reign fell within the period 1229–1233 AH, corresponding to 1814–1818.[1]
A succession of imams ruled the First Saudi State in Diriyah, beginning with Imam Muhammad bin Saud in 1139 AH/1727, and Imam Abdullah bin Saud was the last of them.[1][4]
The Siege of Diriyah
The siege of Diriyah began on Tuesday 3/5/1233 AH, corresponding to 8 April 1818.[2]
Diriyah had military fortifications and defences that held firm against the attacks of Ibrahim Pasha's forces.[8] Imam Faisal bin Turki took part in the defence of Diriyah at Shu'ayb Ghubayra from the start of the siege.[2]
Before the siege, the wars had continued for about seven years, after Muhammad Ali assumed the rule of Egypt in 1220 AH and received a commission from the Ottoman Sultan to march with troops against the Saudis.[4][7]
The Surrender of Imam Abdullah bin Saud and His Transfer to Egypt
Imam Abdullah bin Saud surrendered to the fait accompli and went out to Ibrahim Pasha in his camp after he had made every attempt to repel the successive attacks on his country.[3]
The surrender took place on Wednesday 9/11/1233 AH, corresponding to 9 September 1818, after valiant resistance, and he was then transferred to Egypt.[2] He was moved two days after the surrender, and only three or four men of his people accompanied him.[2]
Imam Abdullah bin Saud was then sent from Egypt to Constantinople.[6]
The Palace of Imam Abdullah bin Saud in At-Turaif District
The historic palace of Imam Abdullah bin Saud bin Abdulaziz is located in the centre of the historic At-Turaif District, specifically to the south-west of Salwa Palace.[1]
The construction of the palace dates to the beginning of the thirteenth Hijri century.[1] The Diriyah Gate Development Authority was established in 1438 AH/2017 to develop the historic Diriyah site.[4]
Diriyah: Origins and Capital
Diriyah arose on the banks of Wadi Hanifah in 850 AH/1446, when Mani' al-Muraydi, the ancestor of the ruling family, came to the area and laid the first foundation stone for the establishment of the state.[4]
The First Saudi State took Diriyah as its capital, and the historic palace of Imam Abdullah bin Saud is located there.[1][4]
The Fall of Diriyah and the Return of the Saudi State
Diriyah fell in 1233 AH/1818 after continuous wars that lasted about seven years, and after a wide campaign that encompassed Diriyah and most of the villages of Najd.[4]
The era of the First Saudi State ended before the forces of Muhammad Ali Pasha in 1233 AH/1818, and conditions in Najd remained unsettled until the emirate of Bani Khalid in the Al-Ahsa region was eliminated in 1245 AH/1830 at the hands of Imam Turki bin Abdullah bin Saud.[5]
Documentation of the Events of Diriyah
The events of Diriyah were recorded thirty-seven years after they took place; the earliest recorder of the war of Diriyah and its news completed his history in 1270 AH, while the fall of Diriyah was in 1233 AH.[3]
Related people
- PersonImam Saud bin Abdulaziz Al SaudImam Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud was the third imam of the First Saudi State, which took Diriyah as its capital. He led the Saudi forces at the First Battle of Al-Hanakiyah in 1228 AH/1813 CE, was described as close to his people and humble in his dealings, and his era saw the scholarly councils of Diriyah flourish.
- PersonImam Muhammad bin SaudFounder and first imam of the First Saudi State in 1139 AH/1727 CE, who made Diriyah its capital and ruled for forty years, uniting most of Najd.
- PersonImam Turki bin AbdullahFounder of the Second Saudi State in 1240 AH/1824 CE, grandson of Imam Muhammad bin Saud and the first to make Riyadh the seat of Saudi rule.
- PersonImam Faisal bin Turki Al SaudImam Faisal bin Turki Al Saud was the second Imam of the Second Saudi State. He ruled in two periods: the first from 1250 AH/1834 CE to 1254 AH/1838 CE, and the second from 1259 AH to 1282 AH (1843–1865 CE).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Imam Abdullah bin Saud? A: He is Abdullah bin Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud, the last imam of the First Saudi State.[1]
Q: When did he assume rule and how long was his reign? A: He assumed rule after the death of his father over the period 1229–1233 AH/1814–1818.[1]
Q: When did the siege of Diriyah begin and when did he surrender? A: The siege began on Tuesday 3/5/1233 AH, corresponding to 8 April 1818, and he surrendered on Wednesday 9/11/1233 AH, corresponding to 9 September 1818.[2]
Q: Where is the historic palace of Imam Abdullah bin Saud located? A: In the centre of the historic At-Turaif District, specifically to the south-west of Salwa Palace, and its construction dates to the beginning of the thirteenth Hijri century.[1]
Q: Where was Imam Abdullah bin Saud transferred? A: He was transferred to Egypt, then sent to Constantinople.[2][6]
Conclusion
The reign of Imam Abdullah bin Saud was the last stage of the First Saudi State in Diriyah before its fall in 1233 AH/1818, and the imam was then transferred to Egypt and from there to Constantinople.[4][6] The Diriyah site preserves the historic palace of the imam in At-Turaif District, and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority was established in 1438 AH/2017 to develop the site.[1][4] Related topics on the platform include the history of Diriyah, the Second Saudi State, Diriyah Gate and the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Tourism and nature
Related topics
- Saudi statesThe First Saudi StateA state centred on Diriyah under Imam Muhammad bin Saud, officially dated in Saudi chronology to 1727. It expanded across Najd and other regions before its capital fell in 1818.
- Urban historyHistory of DiriyahDiriyah developed beside Wadi Hanifah and became the First Saudi State's capital. At-Turaif preserves evidence of its political history and Najdi architecture.
- HistoricAt-Turaif DistrictA historic district at the heart of Diriyah, built in the mid-eighteenth century CE, seat of the First Saudi State and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010.
- GovernorateDiriyah GovernorateA governorate north-west of Riyadh on Wadi Hanifah, founded in 850 AH/1446 CE, capital of the First Saudi State and home to the World Heritage site of At-Turaif.
- Saudi statesThe Second Saudi StateImam Turki bin Abdullah restored Saudi rule in 1824 with Riyadh as capital. The state extended across Najd and eastern Arabia before ending in 1891 with Al Rashid's ascendancy.
- HistoricDiriyah GateDiriyah Gate is a development, cultural, and tourism project in Diriyah, northwest of Riyadh. It comprises At-Turaif, which is inscribed on the World Heritage List, and presents more than 600 years of the history and culture of Saudi Arabia.
- EventUnification of Saudi ArabiaKing Abdulaziz's path from the recovery of Riyadh in 1902 to the proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 23 September 1932, now National Day.
Sources & references
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — “Imam Abdullah bin Saud”.. a story of resilience that inspires visitors to the “Hal Al-Qusur” programme
- Ad-Darah Magazine — King Abdulaziz Foundation (128/1) — “The return of Imam Faisal bin Turki from Egypt through local and Ottoman sources and documents”
- Ad-Darah Magazine — King Abdulaziz Foundation (33/4) — “What history did not mention about the war of Diriyah” (Abdullah bin Muhammad Ibn Khamis)
- Saudi Press Agency (SPA) — “Diriyah.. the nucleus of the Saudi State”
- Ad-Darah Magazine — King Abdulaziz Foundation (154/4) — “The position of the leaders of Bani Khalid on the political developments in Najd 1233–1245 AH”
- Ad-Darah Magazine — King Abdulaziz Foundation (32/8) — “From the historical systems — the urjuza of Ahmed bin Ali bin Du'ayj”
- Ad-Darah Magazine — King Abdulaziz Foundation (10/6) — “The participation of Egyptians in the war against the Saudis in the first half of the thirteenth Hijri century”
- Ad-Darah Magazine — King Abdulaziz Foundation (89/3) — “Diriyah, the capital of the First Saudi State and its civilisational, scientific and economic landmarks”