Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud was the third imam of the First Saudi State; before him it was ruled by Imam Muhammad bin Saud and then Imam Abdulaziz bin Muhammad, and after him came Imam Abdullah bin Saud.[2]

He was described as close to his people and humble in his dealings, keen to listen to their complaints and meet their needs.[1]

He led the Saudi forces in the First Battle of Al-Hanakiyah in 1228 AH/1813 CE, which ended in a Saudi victory and the withdrawal of the Ottoman army from the field.[4]

The First Saudi State extended from 1139 AH/1727 CE to 1233 AH/1818 CE, and took Diriyah as its capital.[2][5]

Its rule passed in succession to Imam Muhammad bin Saud, then Imam Abdulaziz bin Muhammad, then Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz, then Imam Abdullah bin Saud; Imam Saud was the third of them.[2]

Diriyah was founded by the ancestor of the Saudi ruling family, Prince Mani' Al-Muraydi, in 850 AH/1446 CE.[5]

Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz was known by the kunya Abu Abdullah, and people addressed him simply and without formality, calling him "Ya Saud" or "Ya Abu Abdullah", while he in turn called each person by name.[1]

Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz was known for his closeness to his people: he opened his councils to receive them morning and evening, sat with them without formality, and listened to their complaints and needs.[1]

The Swiss traveller John Lewis Burckhardt documented this trait in him, noting that he was close to his people and attentive to them, keeping his councils open for much of the day to sit with people and hear them, and that he was keen to set out banquets for guests, delegations and the general public.[3]

Scholarly councils in Diriyah were held three times a day in the market and the mosques and remained open to all, helping to spread knowledge and entrench the value of learning as an essential part of the cultural and social revival.[1]

Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud led the Saudi forces in the First Battle of Al-Hanakiyah in 1228 AH/1813 CE, fought around Al-Hanakiyah Fortress northwest of Madinah between the forces of the First Saudi State and the Ottoman army.[4]

The battle ended in a Saudi victory and the withdrawal of the Ottoman army from the field, which helped delay the Ottoman military advance toward Najd and strengthened the military presence of the First Saudi State around Madinah.[4]

The Swiss traveller John Lewis Burckhardt visited the Arabian Peninsula during the reign of Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz in 1229 AH/1814 CE, and recorded a detailed account of his character and his closeness to his people.[3]

During his reign, too, the Italian traveller Giovanni Finati passed through the regions of the First Saudi State in 1226 AH/1811 CE and recorded the generosity and hospitality he witnessed, while the traveller Domingo Badia gave himself the name "Ali Bey Al-Abbasi" in 1222 AH/1807 CE.[3]

Diriyah is the first capital of the Saudi State, about 20 km from the centre of Riyadh, embraced by the fertile Wadi Hanifah and rising about 700 metres above sea level.[6]

At the height of its prosperity, Diriyah stretched for eight kilometres along both banks of the wadi.[6]

Among the best-known districts of Diriyah after the rise of the First Saudi State are Al-Mulaybid, Ghusaybah, At-Turaif, Al-Bujairi and Al-Mamalik; At-Turaif is the only district lying west of Wadi Hanifah and was the seat of government, the rulers and the men of the state, and in the era of the First Saudi State Diriyah was a political, commercial and scholarly centre without parallel.[7]

The historic At-Turaif district of Diriyah was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2010; it is one of the most important national heritage sites and a symbol of the Kingdom's history.[6]

Royal Decree No. (A/371), dated 24 Jumada al-Akhirah 1443 AH, designated 22 February each year as the anniversary of the founding of the Saudi State, under the name "Founding Day".[5]

Q: Who was Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud? A: He was Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud, the third imam of the First Saudi State.[2]

Q: What was the most prominent battle he led? A: He led the Saudi forces in the First Battle of Al-Hanakiyah in 1228 AH/1813 CE northwest of Madinah; it ended in a Saudi victory and the withdrawal of the Ottoman army.[4]

Q: How did he deal with his people? A: He was close to his people, opening his councils morning and evening, sitting with them without formality and listening to their complaints and needs.[1]

Q: What was his kunya? A: His kunya was Abu Abdullah, and people addressed him as "Ya Saud" or "Ya Abu Abdullah".[1]

Q: How were the scholarly councils in Diriyah during his era? A: They were held three times a day in the market and the mosques, and were open to all.[1]

Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz was the third imam of the First Saudi State, which took Diriyah as its capital, and he was succeeded in rule by Imam Abdullah bin Saud.[2] Related topics on the platform include the History of Diriyah, the Diriyah Governorate, the Second Saudi State and the Unification of Saudi Arabia.