Abd al-Aziz ibn Saud
(b. 24 Nov. 1880, d. 9 Nov. 1953). King of Saudi Arabia 1932–53 Born in Riyad of the Wahhabi dynasty, he was forced into exile to Kuwait in 1902. From there, he organized and led a successful Bedouin revolt which enabled him to recapture Riyad. He then conquered the Turkish province of Al Hasa, and was recognized by the British as Emir of Nejd and Hasa in 1915. He then challenged
Hussein ibn Ali
, whom he eventually defeated, annexing Azir in 1923, and taking the Holy City of Mecca ...