Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Bin Saud

Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Bin Saud (1720 - 1803), the second Imam of the First Saudi State and the eldest son of its founder, Imam Mohammad Bin Saud, governed for approximately thirty-nine years. He unified Najd by capturing Riyadh and incorporating it into the rule of the First Saudi State after a conflict that spanned three decades. He also established al-Turaif District, recognized as the world's largest mud district and listed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List.

He is Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Bin Saud Bin Muqrin Bin Mirkhan Bin Ibrahim Bin Musa Bin Rabia Bin Mani' Bin Rabia al-Muraydi. He was born in Diriyah, the seat of the emirate, and he is the son of the founder of the First Saudi State and its first Imam, Imam Mohammad Bin Saud. His father was known for his justice and firmness among the princes of Najd, while his mother was renowned for her mindfulness and sapience.

In his youth, Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Bin Saud displayed a keen interest in science.  Imam Abdulaziz was renowned for his noble morals, his profound appreciation for knowledge and scholars, his dedication to nurturing students of knowledge, his compassion towards the less fortunate, and his support for the vulnerable. Moreover, he exemplified traits of humility, simplicity, and asceticism.

Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Bin Saud exhibited great compassion towards his people. He distributed charity and financial assistance, particularly directed towards the vulnerable and needy. He welcomed those in need from all corners, readily fulfilling their requests and generously supporting them. Additionally, he dedicated a Diwan (office) specifically for the support of students of knowledge, Imams, and Muezzins. He received requests from those in need, sometimes from multiple members of a single family, and ensured that each received charitable assistance. When a man passed away anywhere within the state, his offspring would seek his support, and he would provide for them, assigning them salaries from the Diwan. He personally attended to Diriyah's orphans and vulnerable, inquiring about their welfare and meeting their necessities. He even directed vulnerable individuals in distant areas to Diriyah, ordering them to journey to Diriyah and attending to all their necessities and needs.

During his father's reign, Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Bin Saud participated in managing the state’s affairs. He prominently took part in the Saudi state's armies in their conflicts against adversaries in 1746, eventually assuming command of these armies in 1750 at his father's order. The latter handed over the command of the armies and dedicated himself to political matters within the state. Imam Abdulaziz played a crucial role in safeguarding Diriyah's security. He successfully countered the incursion led by Arayar Bin Dujain, chief of the Bani Khalid tribe in 1758, which targeted al-Jubailah and built Diriyah’s two walls. Six years later, when Arayar Bin Dujain launched another attack in 1764 and besieged Diriyah, its fortified walls proved instrumental in repelling the assault.

Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Bin Saud assumed power in the Emirate of Diriyah following the passing of his father, Imam Mohammad Bin Saud, in 1765, when he was forty-six years old. His initial action after assuming rule in Diriyah was to relocate the seat of governance from al-Tarfiyah District, established by his father, to al-Turaif District, which he constructed and designated as a hub for rule and administration. Al-Turaif District has become a recognized World Heritage Site under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 2010. Additionally, the Salwa Palace, which he built there, served as the subsequent seat of government for the Imams of the First Saudi State.

Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Bin Saud demonstrated a keen interest in education within his emirate's borders and ensured the safety of commercial routes, particularly the Hajj route passing through Diriyah. Historical accounts portray him as a host to pilgrims traversing Diriyah, providing hospitality for three days and supplying them with all necessary provisions for their journey. The rule of Imam Abdulaziz contributed significantly to the establishment and consolidation of the state's foundations, utilizing vast and diverse territories, large population, formidable armies, and financial resources within a prevailing climate of security and dignity.

The conflict between the First Saudi State and Dahham Bin Dawwas, the governor of Riyadh, endured for roughly thirty years, marked by alternating phases of open hostility, temporary truces, and occasional periods of peace. Despite pledging allegiance to the Saudi State on four occasions during the reign of Imam Mohammad Bin Saud and the early rule of his son, Imam Abdulaziz, Dahham repeatedly reneged on his promises. Ultimately, he proved unable to withstand the confrontation with Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Bin Saud. Imam Abdulaziz attacked him in Riyadh due to his betrayal of the people of the city of Manfuha, who remained loyal to Al Saud rule. Riyadh was besieged, and following numerous clashes, Dahham Bin Dawwas was compelled to flee from Riyadh in 1773, along with his wives, children, and some of his followers.

Upon Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Bin Saud's entry in Riyadh, he called for the safety of those who remained in the city and the securing of the homes of those who left to deter theft. Additionally, he reached out to the followers of Dahham Bin Dawwas, offering reassurance and extending an invitation for their return to Riyadh. Consequently, many chose to come back to their homes. The incorporation of Riyadh into the governance of the Saudi State marked a significant gain both politically and socially, while also removing a longstanding adversary. The state leveraged Riyadh’s location militarily to annex other surrounding regions. Furthermore, it sent a clear message of strength to neighboring powers, deterring any potential aggression against the Saudi state. Imam Abdulaziz stayed for a while in Riyadh to organize administrative and social matters within the city, and he assigned Abdullah Bin Muqrin Bin Mohammed Bin Muqrin to oversee its affairs. Subsequently, Imam Abdulaziz departed for Diriyah.

The incorporation of Riyadh under the reign of Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Bin Saud marked a turning point for the southern regions of Najd, following significant expansion in the north. By the end of the eighteenth century and early into the subsequent century, Najd achieved full unity. Within a few years, the boundaries of the First Saudi State doubled, encompassing the eastern region of the Arabian Peninsula, Jabal Shammar, Tihama, Sarat Aseer, and the Hejaz Highlands. Additionally, he extended protection to al-Qasimi, Oman, and Bahrain. His wars weren't confined to the Arabian Peninsula; he led his forces to Iraq in response to attacks against his rule by the Ottoman Empire's governor (vali) in Iraq. In early 1803, he peacefully entered Makkah al-Mukarramah with his army, led by his son Saud (later known as Imam Saud), without engaging in warfare.

Following the territorial expansion of the first state and Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammad Bin Saud's series of triumphs across the Arabian Peninsula, he was assassinated by an adversary of the Saudi State. This occurred during his performance of the Asr (afternoon) prayer at al-Turaif Mosque in Diriyah in November 1803, after spending thirty-nine years in rule.