Battle of Al-Turufiyyah
The Battle of Al-Turufiyyah was fought by the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud in the Qassim Province in 1907. It occurred after an agreement between governor of Buraydah Mohammed Aba Al-Khail and Sultan Bin Rashid, governor of Hail, along with an attempt to persuade the governor of Unaizah to side with them against King Abdulaziz.
Causes of the Battle of Al-Turufiyyah
While returning from a previous confrontation with Sultan Bin Rashid on the outskirts of Qassim, King Abdulaziz's men captured a messenger sent by the governor of Buraydah. The messenger carried letters to Sultan Bin Rashid pledging support against King Abdulaziz. The King then entered Buraydah, met with its governor and leading figures, and renewed their oath of allegiance. However, the governor of Buraydah broke his pledge again, aligning with Sultan Bin Rashid and attempting to persuade the governor of Unaizah to join them. The governor of Unaizah refused, maintaining his loyalty to King Abdulaziz.
Aba Al-Khail and his followers insisted on receiving Ibn Rashid, misleading him into believing that Unaizah’s people would support him if he entered Qassim. Ibn Rashid arrived in the region and stayed for nearly a month, moving from one location to another in an attempt to impose his authority. During this period, Faisal Al-Duwaish arrived with his men and pledged to support him.
Events of the Battle of Al-Turufiyyah
After the Founding King Abdulaziz learned of the alliance in Qassim Province between the governor of Buraydah, Ibn Rashid, and Al-Duwaish, he marched with his men to Unaizah in September 1907. He was joined by four hundred local fighters led by Saleh Al-Zamil. They set out at night to attack Sultan Bin Rashid, but he was alerted to their approach and retreated into the town.
The next morning, skirmishes broke out outside the walls of Buraydah. Those inside the town were reluctant to leave its protection, while those outside feared internal repercussions. Meanwhile, Faisal Al-Duwaish arrived with his troops in support of Ibn Rashid and the governor of Buraydah. King Abdulaziz confronted him, defeated his forces, and pursued them to their camp in Al-Turufiyyah, which he captured on September 25, 1907.
End of the Battle of Al-Turufiyyah
After the defeat of Al-Duwaish, he once again allied with Ibn Rashid and Aba Al-Khail to attack King Abdulaziz in Al-Turufiyyah at night. They advanced and launched their assault, but King Abdulaziz and his men overcame them, forcing their remnants to retreat to Buraydah. King Abdulaziz then left Al-Turufiyyah and camped near Buraydah. Villagers requested his pardon, which he granted, ordering that their towns not be harmed. By early October, King Abdulaziz had reached Unaizah, then Al-Bukayriyah and Ar-Rass, aiming to draw Ibn Rashid and his forces into battle away from Buraydah. Ibn Rashid, however, did not respond and eventually withdrew, leaving his brother Faisal and his cavalry to support the governor of Buraydah. Upon learning this, King Abdulaziz launched raids that reached the outskirts of Hail before eventually returning to Riyadh.
Sources
History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Al-Saleh Al-Uthaymeen, 2005.