Battle of Riyadh

Battle of Riyadh
Part of the Unification of Saudi Arabia
Masmak Fort
Date 13 January 1902 Location Riyadh, Emirate of Ha'il Result House of Saud victory Abdulaziz successfully captured Riyadh Establishment of Emirate of Riyadh
Belligerents
Emirate of Ha'il Supported by: Ottoman Empire	House of Saud
Commanders and leaders
Ibn Ajlan †	Abdulaziz Ibn Saud
Strength
80	68
Casualties and losses
30 dead	7 dead
37 dead[1]

The Battle of Riyadh was a minor battle in Riyadh, then part of the Emirate of Ha'il, fought between the Rashidi dynasty and the House of Saud in January 1902 that resulted in the latter's takeover of walled town by Abdul-Aziz Ibn Saud. The battle is considered a prelude to the 30-year old unification war, culminating in the establishment of Saudi Arabia in 1932.

In late 1901, following the end of the Second Saudi State, the Al Saud clan was forced to move to Kuwait after Riyadh had fallen to the Al Rashid family. Ibn Saud, the head of the clan, requested supplies and men from the Kuwaiti Emir to retake his hometown. The Kuwaiti prince, who was also involved in several wars with the Rashidis, acceded to Ibn Saud's request and gave him horses and arms.

After he arrived he said. "Judgment belongs to God and then to Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Al Saud".

In January 1902, Ibn Saud and his men returned to Riyadh and successfully assaulted the castle. He captured and killed Ibn Ajlan (Chief of Riyadh) after morning prayers, and Abdul Aziz held Ibn Ajlan's head and threw it to the people of Riyadh.^[2]

Abdul Aziz's victory marked the start of three decades of fighting that would ultimately see him unite nearly all of central Arabia under his rule. It also marked the beginning of the Third Saudi State, which evolved into present-day Saudi Arabia.