| Battle of Riyadh | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theUnification of Saudi Arabia | |||||||
 Masmak Fort | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Emirate of Ha'ilSupported 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 inRiyadh, then part of theEmirate of Ha'il, fought between theRashidi dynasty and theHouse of Saud in January 1902 that resulted in the latter's takeover ofwalled town byAbdul-AzizIbn Saud. The battle is considered a prelude to the 30-year oldunification war, culminating in the establishment of Saudi Arabia in 1932.
In late 1901, following the end of theSecond Saudi State, theAl Saud clan was forced to move toKuwait after Riyadh had fallen to the Al Rashid family.Ibn Saud, the head of the clan, requested supplies and men from theKuwaiti 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-daySaudi Arabia.
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