History
Saudi Arabia became a kingdom in 1932. The Al Saud controlled vast parts of the region for two and half centuries. The Saudi royalty collapsed twice in the 1800s due to discord over succession. In 1890s, the Al Sauds was completely supplanted by a rival clan — the Al Rashid. The kingdom began to fight to restore itself through King Abdulaziz and his capture of Riyadh in 1902.
Abdulaziz conquered Arabia and formed alliances by marriage to members of its biggest tribes. This strengthened his power within the Al Sauds and expanded his legitimacy in Arabia. He presided over the discovery of oil in the region. He died in 1953.
Prince Saud became king in 1953. This reign lasted until 1965. Then, Prince Faisal became king upon overthrown of King Saud. Faisal's reign was ended by his assassination in 1975. King Khalid ascended to the throne and ruled until his death in 1982. King Fahd, the head of the Sudairi faction, ruled from 1982 until his stroke in 1995. Crown Prince Abdullah then took control of the kingdom's affairs and was crowned king in 2005, after the death of King Fahd. King Abdullah is the present ruler of Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince is Salman bin Abdulaziz beginning in 18 June 2012.
Read more about this topic: Line Of Succession To The Saudi Arabian Throne
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“Tell me of the height of the mountains of the moon, or of the diameter of space, and I may believe you, but of the secret history of the Almighty, and I shall pronounce thee mad.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“It’s nice to be a part of history but people should get it right. I may not be perfect, but I’m bloody close.”
—John Lydon (formerly Johnny Rotten)
“The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face; we, through their eyes. Why should not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe? Why should not we have a poetry and philosophy of insight and not of tradition, and a religion by revelation to us, and not the history of theirs?”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)