The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is almost entirely the creation of King Ibn Saud (1882–1953). A descendant of Wahhabi leaders, he seized Riyadh in 1901-2 and set himself up as leader of the Arab nationalist movement.
In 1902, Abdulaziz, – accompanied by only 40 followers – staged a daring night march into Riyadh to retake the city garrison, known as the Masmak Fortress. This legendary event marks the beginning of the formation of the modern Saudi state.
After establishing Riyadh as his headquarters, Abdulaziz captured all of the Hijaz, including Makkah and Madinah, in 1924 to 1925. In the process, he united warring tribes into one nation.
On September 23, 1932, the country was named the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, an Islamic state with Arabic as its national language and the Holy Qur’an as its constitution.
1902 – Ibn Saud takes control of Riyadh.
1912 – The Ikhwan (Brotherhood) is founded based on strict Wahhabi Sunni Islam, and provides key support for Ibn Saud.
1921-25 – After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Ibn Saud takes over Najd and Hijaz, the home to the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
1928-30 – Ibn Saud defeats an Ikhwan uprising against his efforts to modernisation the region.
1932 September – Ibn Saud unites his lands as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and takes the King Abdulaziz.
1938 – Oil is discovered and production begins under the US-controlled Aramco (Arabian American Oil Company).
1953 November – King Abdulaziz dies and is succeeded by Crown Prince Saud, whose reign is marked by rivalry with Arab nationalist Egypt in the region and a power struggle with his borther Faisal at home.
1960 – Saudi Arabia is a founding member of Opec (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries).
1964 November – King Saud is deposed by his brother Faisal.
1972 – Saudi Arabia gains control of 20% of Aramco, lessening US control over Saudi oil.
1973 – Saudi Arabia leads an oil boycott against the Western countries that supported Israel in the October Yom Kippur War with Egypt and Syria. Oil prices quadruple.
1975 March – King Faisal is assassinated by his nephew and succeeded by his brother Khalid.
1979 – Extremists seize the Grand Mosque of Mecca; the government regains control after 10 days and those captured are executed.
1980 – Saudi Arabia takes full control of Aramco from the US.
1981 May – Saudi Arabia is a founder member of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council).
King Khalid dies
1982 June – King Khalid dies of a heart attack and is succeeded by his brother, Crown Prince Fahd.
1986 November – King Fahd adds the title “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques” to his name.
1987 – Saudi Arabia resumes diplomatic relations with Egypt, severed since 1979.
1990 – Saudi Arabia condemns Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and asks the US to intervene.
1991 – Saudi Arabia is involved in both air attacks on Iraq and the land force that went on to liberate Kuwait.
1992 March – King Fahd announces the “Basic System of Government” emphasising the duties and responsibilities of a ruler. He proposes setting up a Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura).
1993 December – The Consultative Council is inaugurated. It is composed of a chairman and 60 members chosen by the king.
1994 – Islamic dissident Osama Bin Laden is stripped of his Saudi nationality.
1997 July – King Fahd increases the members of the Consultative Council from 60 to 90.
1999 October – Twenty Saudi women attend a session of the Consultative Council for the first time.
Rulers :
King Abdulaziz (1932-1953)
King Saud (1953-1964)
King Faisal (1964-1975)
King Khalid (1975-1982)
King Fahd (1982-2005)
King Abdullah (2005 – 2015)
King Salman (2015 – )
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz
Note: Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, Muhammad[1703-1791]was a Hanbali jurist. He formed an alliance with Ibn al-Saud in 1744 that allowed Ibn al-Saud control over military, political, and economic matters and Ibn Abd al-Wahhab responsibility for religious concerns. The alliance instituted the foundation of the first Saudi dynasty. Muhammad Ibn Su’ud, the Prince of ad-Dar’iyyah in eastern Arabia, supported him and worked to spread his ideology. Ibn Su’ud was from Banu Hanifah, the people of Musaylimah al-Kadhdhab. When Muhammad Ibn Su’uddied, his son ‘Abdul-‘Aziz Ibn Muhammad Ibn Su’ud took over the responsibility of fulfilling the vile task of spreading the Wahhabi beliefs.
He considered visiting the grave of Prophet Muhammad and the graves of other prophets and righteous Muslims for blessings as blasphemy. Allah revealed Ayah 3 of Surat az-Zumar inreference to the mushrikun: Those who worship the idols said: “We do not worship them except to achieve a higher status from Allah.
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