UNDERSTANDING THE MIDDLE EAST:
History, Religion, and the Clash of Cultures
400 pages
Copyright © 2007 by Beechmont Crest Publishing
First edition, 2007
0-9748330-6-1
C H A P T E R 8:
The Story of Saudi Arabia
Abdul Aziz becomes Ibn Saud
Abdul Aziz is now known as Ibn Saud, the “father” of Saudi Arabia. In the Middle East, Ibn Saud is remembered as one the Arab world’s greatest leaders; and he is revered within Saudi Arabia itself. The kingdom bears his name. During his lifetime, there was little distinction between Ibn Saud the man and Saudi Arabia the nation.
Like many great leaders, Ibn Saud was willing to take bold risks. Unlike many leaders who are quickly killed off or deposed, Ibn Saud had the luck and tenacity to make his most important gambles succeed.
In January 1902, Ibn Saud led a small band of less than a hundred followers against Riyadh under the cover of predawn darkness. He left most of his men outside the city. He and ten of his most able fighters scaled the city’s walls and eluded Rashid’s sentries. They took refuge in the house of a confederate until dawn. The house was near Riyadh’s main fortress, where Rashid’s local governor was passing the night.
When dawn broke, the governor left the fortress to return to his private residence. Ibn Saud and his men were ready. They waylaid the governor and his bodyguards. In the ensuing fight, Ibn Saud and the governor fought hand-to-hand. The governor was killed in the skirmish by one of Ibn Saud’s men.
After killing the governor, Ibn Saud led his men into the Riyadh fortress. He was now joined by the men who had been waiting outside the city. Although Ibn Saud’s force was still less than impressive from a numerical standpoint, Rashid’s guards quickly surrendered. Ibn Saud had reclaimed Riyadh for the House of Saud.
All the king’s sons
Ibn Saud (the first member of the Al-Saud dynasty to officially take the title of “king”) was the father of Saudi Arabia in more ways than one. He married multiple times---often to the daughters of tribal leaders whose support he needed in order to consolidate his rule. He fathered more than 80 children. All of the Saudi kings since Ibn Saud himself have been children of the prolific patriarch.
Copyright 2005 Beechmont Crest Publishing
