The rulers of the second Saudi state governed for sixty-nine years, from the founding of the state in 1824 until 1891, with Riyadh as their capital. The line began with Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad Bin Saud, grandson of the founder of the first state and closed with Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal, father of King Abdulaziz.
How the second state took shape
The state began to form after the collapse of the first state in 1818. In 1820, Prince Mishari Bin Saud Bin Abdulaziz tried to restore Saudi rule and held power for only a few months. Imam Turki succeeded where that attempt failed, reclaiming the country and rebuilding it on the same foundations, with security and stability as his first concern. He moved the seat of government to Riyadh, where it has remained ever since.
Order of the rulers of the second Saudi state
- Imam Turki Bin Abdullah, from 1824 to 1833
- Imam Faisal Bin Turki, first reign 1834 to 1838, second reign 1843 to 1865
- Imam Abdullah Bin Faisal, first reign 1865 to 1871, second reign 1876 to 1887
- Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal, from 1889 to 1891
Imam Turki Bin Abdullah
In 1824 Imam Turki expelled Ottoman forces from the region and made Riyadh the capital of Al Saud rule. He recovered most of the territory once held by the first state, receiving pledges of allegiance region by region and steadily extending the state’s authority. He was assassinated on May 8, 1833, by Ibrahim Bin Hamza Bin Mansour in a plot arranged by Prince Mishari Bin Abdulrahman. Mishari held Riyadh for forty days before Imam Faisal Bin Turki retook the city in 1834.
Imam Faisal Bin Turki
Faisal Bin Turki was the first Saudi leader whose reign split into two periods. The first ran from 1834 until his capture and transfer to Egypt in 1838. He returned to power in 1843 and consolidated the state’s influence across central and eastern Arabia. His rule lasted twenty-three years in total, ending with his death on December 9, 1865.
The last two Imams
Abdullah Bin Faisal succeeded his father and also ruled twice, from 1865 to 1871, when internal strife forced him out of Riyadh, and again from 1876 to 1887. Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal ruled from 1889 to 1891 and was the first Saudi Imam to be photographed. His son later restored the family’s rule and founded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a story continued in the wider history of Saudi Arabia.
Key takeaways
- The second state lasted from 1824 to 1891 and was centred on Riyadh.
- Two of its four Imams, Faisal and Abdullah, ruled in two separate periods.
- Imam Abdulrahman links the second state directly to the modern Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions about the second Saudi state
Who founded the second Saudi state?
Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad Bin Saud, in 1824.
Which city was the capital?
Riyadh, chosen by Imam Turki and the seat of government ever since.
How long did the second state last?
Sixty-nine years, from 1824 to 1891.
Records and illustrations of the four Imams are held by the King Abdulaziz Foundation (Darah).
