Early life and the defence of Diriyah
Imam Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Saud (1183–1249 AH/1769–1834 CE) founded the Second Saudi State and was a grandson of Imam Muhammad bin Saud. [1]
Known for his courage, he was among the foremost defenders of Diriyah against the Ottoman army, losing his son Fahd and his brothers Muhammad and Saud, and refused to surrender. His name is tied to his sword, al-Ajrab, which he mentions in a famous poem. [1]
Restoring rule
In Ramadan 1238 AH/May 1823 CE he came from the town of Al-Hulwah with thirty men and settled in Irqah, where supporters from Al-Washm, Sudair and elsewhere rallied to him. He recovered Riyadh in 1240 AH/1824 CE and made it the capital after Diriyah's destruction. [1]
By 1241 AH/1825 CE all the towns of Najd had pledged allegiance, and he later added Al-Ahsa. The state he founded lasted 69 years, until 1309 AH/1891 CE. [1]
Related people
- 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 Abdullah bin SaudImam Abdullah bin Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud was the last imam of the First Saudi State, ruling after the death of his father over the period 1229–1233 AH/1814–1818. During his reign the siege of Diriyah took place; he then surrendered and was transferred to Egypt and then to Constantinople.
Death
Imam Turki was assassinated on the last day of Dhu al-Hijjah 1249 AH/1834 CE as he walked unguarded from Friday prayer to his palace, after nine years of rule. [1]
Related topics
- 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.
- CityRiyadh (city)Capital of Saudi Arabia and seat of the Riyadh Region emirate, beside Diriyah, home to Qasr Al-Hukm and Masmak Palace.
- EventBattle of MulaydaThe Battle of Mulayda was fought in 1308 AH/1891 and stands among the last decisive episodes in the history of the Second Saudi State, whose era ended the following year, 1309 AH/1891. It was followed by the departure of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal with his family from Riyadh to Kuwait, and by the role of his daughter Noura in encouraging her brother Abdulaziz, until the recapture of Riyadh in 1319 AH/1902.
- EventEgyptian Campaign on DiriyahThe Egyptian Campaign on Diriyah was a military campaign directed at the First Saudi State, launched by a commission from the Ottoman Sultan to Muhammad Ali, who assumed the rule of Egypt in 1220 AH; its forces reached Diriyah in 1233 AH/1818 CE after wars that lasted nearly seven years.