House of Saud the rulers of Saudi Arabia: oil power and wealth
Saudi Arabia always is a country which often makes the headlines of the news
often due due to oil prices.
Most people know that Saudi Arabia has a monarchy with a King as the head of
the State. Nowadays the country is ruled by Salman bin Abdulaziz.
However Saudi Arabia really has a nice royal history.
Some royal history
Between 1446 and 1447 the earliest recorded ancestor of the Al Saud family
was Mani' Ibn Rabiah Al-Muraydi. He and his clan settled in Diriyah.
His clan was called the Mrudah.
In 1744, the First Saudi State was founded. This period was marked by the
conquest of neighboring areas. At its height the First Saudi State included
most of the territory of modern-day Saudi Arabia and raids by Al Saud's
allies reached into Yemen, Oman, Syria and Iraq.
Leadership of the Al Saud during the time of their first state passed from
father to son. The first imam, Muhammad ibn Saud was succeeded by his
eldest son Abdulaziz in 1765.
In 1802 this Abdulaziz led ten thousand Wahhabi soldiers into an attack
on the holy city of Karbala in what is now Iraq. The soldiers killed more
than two thousand people including women and children.
In 1803 Abdulaziz himself was killed. He was succeeded by his son, Saud.
In 1814, when Saud died, his son and successor Abdullah ibn Saud
had to contend with an Ottoman Egyptian invasion. In 1818, the Egyptian
force took over the Saudi capital of Diriyyah. Abdullah was taken prisoner
and beheaded by the Ottomans in Constantinople. This ended the
First Saudi State.
A few years later after the fall of Diriyyah, the Saudis were able to
re-establish their authority in Najd, and they founded the Emirate of
Nejd, known as the Second Saudi State with its capital in Riyadh.
The Second Saudi State was marked by severe internal conflicts
within the Saudi family, eventually leading to the dynasty's downfall.
After a defeat in Mulayda, Abdul Rahman ibn Faisal went with his
family into exile in the deserts of eastern Arabia. Soon afterwards, he
found refuge in Kuwait as a guest of the Kuwaiti emir Mubarak
Al Sabah.
In 1902, Abdul Rhaman's son Abdul Aziz took on the task to restore
Saudi rule in Riyadh. The next years he tried to re-establish his
family's rule over central Arabia, starting with his native Najd.
In 1921 Abdul Aziz won final Victory over the Rashidis. This made
him the ruler of most central Arabia.
By 1932, Abdul Aziz had disposed of all his main rivals and consolidated
the rule over much of the Arabian Peninsula. He united his dominions into
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abdul Aziz had many children by as many wives. He appointed his
eldest surviving son, Saud as heir apparent.
In 1953, Abdul Aziz also called Ibn Saud died. Nowadays Saudi Arabia
still is ruled by a descendent of this noble family.
Power
The head of the House of Saud is also the King of Saudi Arabia and
Head of State. He has the absolute political power. The King appoints
ministers, which are mostly members of his own family.
Unlike the Western royal families the Saudi monarchy nowadays not
has a clearly defined order of succession. The King can appoint an
heir apparent to the throne, who serves as Crown Prince. It only is
the King and the Crown Prince who have the most political power.
In April 2015, Mohammed bin Salman became Deputy Crown Prince.
In 2017 he became Crown Prince, however many members of Saudi's
royal family are distressed that Mohammed bin Salman will become
the new King.
The Royal Family of Saudi Arabia is one of the wealthiest dynasties
of the world if not the wealthiest. Its net worth has been estimated
over 1,4 trillion dollars.
Due to its authoritarian rule, the House of Saud attracts much criticism
during its rule of Saudi Arabia.
In 2018 on BBC there was an interesting series about the House of Saud.
Tourism
Recently (october 2019) Saudi Arabia decided to open its country for
tourists. More on this BBC link .
Source pictures: Wikipedia
often due due to oil prices.
Most people know that Saudi Arabia has a monarchy with a King as the head of
the State. Nowadays the country is ruled by Salman bin Abdulaziz.
However Saudi Arabia really has a nice royal history.
Some royal history
Between 1446 and 1447 the earliest recorded ancestor of the Al Saud family
was Mani' Ibn Rabiah Al-Muraydi. He and his clan settled in Diriyah.
His clan was called the Mrudah.
In 1744, the First Saudi State was founded. This period was marked by the
conquest of neighboring areas. At its height the First Saudi State included
most of the territory of modern-day Saudi Arabia and raids by Al Saud's
allies reached into Yemen, Oman, Syria and Iraq.
Leadership of the Al Saud during the time of their first state passed from
father to son. The first imam, Muhammad ibn Saud was succeeded by his
eldest son Abdulaziz in 1765.
In 1802 this Abdulaziz led ten thousand Wahhabi soldiers into an attack
on the holy city of Karbala in what is now Iraq. The soldiers killed more
than two thousand people including women and children.
In 1803 Abdulaziz himself was killed. He was succeeded by his son, Saud.
In 1814, when Saud died, his son and successor Abdullah ibn Saud
had to contend with an Ottoman Egyptian invasion. In 1818, the Egyptian
force took over the Saudi capital of Diriyyah. Abdullah was taken prisoner
and beheaded by the Ottomans in Constantinople. This ended the
First Saudi State.
A few years later after the fall of Diriyyah, the Saudis were able to
re-establish their authority in Najd, and they founded the Emirate of
Nejd, known as the Second Saudi State with its capital in Riyadh.
The Second Saudi State was marked by severe internal conflicts
within the Saudi family, eventually leading to the dynasty's downfall.
After a defeat in Mulayda, Abdul Rahman ibn Faisal went with his
family into exile in the deserts of eastern Arabia. Soon afterwards, he
found refuge in Kuwait as a guest of the Kuwaiti emir Mubarak
Al Sabah.
In 1902, Abdul Rhaman's son Abdul Aziz took on the task to restore
Saudi rule in Riyadh. The next years he tried to re-establish his
family's rule over central Arabia, starting with his native Najd.
In 1921 Abdul Aziz won final Victory over the Rashidis. This made
him the ruler of most central Arabia.
Picture 1920's
King Faisal I of Syria and King Abdul-Aziz from
Saudi Arabia
By 1932, Abdul Aziz had disposed of all his main rivals and consolidated
the rule over much of the Arabian Peninsula. He united his dominions into
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abdul Aziz had many children by as many wives. He appointed his
eldest surviving son, Saud as heir apparent.
In 1953, Abdul Aziz also called Ibn Saud died. Nowadays Saudi Arabia
still is ruled by a descendent of this noble family.
King Salman of Saudi Arabia with President Barack Obama
27 January 2015
King Salman of Saudi Arabia
President Donald Trump
21 May 2017
Power
The head of the House of Saud is also the King of Saudi Arabia and
Head of State. He has the absolute political power. The King appoints
ministers, which are mostly members of his own family.
Unlike the Western royal families the Saudi monarchy nowadays not
has a clearly defined order of succession. The King can appoint an
heir apparent to the throne, who serves as Crown Prince. It only is
the King and the Crown Prince who have the most political power.
 |
| View to Saudi Arabia picture taken in Egypt |
In April 2015, Mohammed bin Salman became Deputy Crown Prince.
In 2017 he became Crown Prince, however many members of Saudi's
royal family are distressed that Mohammed bin Salman will become
the new King.
The Royal Family of Saudi Arabia is one of the wealthiest dynasties
of the world if not the wealthiest. Its net worth has been estimated
over 1,4 trillion dollars.
Due to its authoritarian rule, the House of Saud attracts much criticism
during its rule of Saudi Arabia.
In 2018 on BBC there was an interesting series about the House of Saud.
Tourism
Recently (october 2019) Saudi Arabia decided to open its country for
tourists. More on this BBC link .
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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