Recapture of Riyadh
1902 · Masmak Fort, Riyadh (present-day capital of Saudi Arabia) · World · Modern
Ibn Saud and his party slipped into Riyadh by night and at dawn ambushed the governor Ajlan at the gate of Masmak Fort; the attack succeeded and the garrison surrendered.
Belligerents
Ibn Saud's side
- Commanders
- Abdulaziz Ibn Saud
- Strength
- About 40–60 men (accounts vary)
Rashidi garrison
- Commanders
- Ajlan (Rashidi governor of Riyadh)
- Strength
- Size unknown
Background
After the Second Saudi State was defeated by the Al Rashid in 1891, the Saud family went into exile in Kuwait. At the end of 1901, Abdulaziz, then in his twenties, headed south with a small band of followers; many of them left along the way, but he still resolved to risk a surprise attack on Riyadh.
Course of the battle
- Stealthy march southThe party set out from Kuwait, crept south across the desert, and hid near Riyadh.
- Entering the city by nightAt night they climbed into the town and occupied a house opposite the fort to wait for daybreak.
- Ambush at the gateAt dawn the governor Ajlan was attacked as he came out of Masmak Fort and was killed in the melee.
- Garrison surrendersHaving lost its commander, the garrison surrendered, and the townspeople accepted the return of the Saud family.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 1902 |
|---|---|
| Place | Masmak Fort, Riyadh (today's capital of Saudi Arabia) |
| Result | Ibn Saud and his party slipped into Riyadh by night and at dawn ambushed the governor Ajlan at the gate of Masmak Fort; the attack succeeded and the garrison surrendered. |
| Winner | Ibn Saud's side |
| Casualties | Few casualties, with no precise records; the governor Ajlan was killed. |
| Territorial change | The Saud family regained control of Riyadh and used it as a base to gradually unify Najd; this was the starting point of the Third Saudi State. |
Impact
This very small surprise attack is regarded as the starting point of modern Saudi Arabia, and Masmak Fort remains a historic landmark of Riyadh today.
See the world in 1902 on the map →