Battle of Riyadh (1902)

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Battle of Riyadh
Al Masmak Castle
Date 13 January 1902 Location Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Result Ibn Saud successfully cuptured Riyadh Establishment of Sultanate of Nejd Death of Ibn Ajlan
Belligerents
Rashidi State	Sultanate of Nejd
Commanders
Ibn Ajlan †	King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud
Strength
80	68
Casualties and losses
30 dead	7 dead

Unification of Saudi Arabia Riyadh – Dilam - Bekeriyah - Shinanah - Rawdat Muhanna – Tarafiyah – Kanzaan – Hajla – Hurmula – Taif – Mecca – Medina – Jeddah

Battle of Riyadh was a minor battle of the Unification War between Rashidi and Ibn Saud rebels. It occurred on 13 January 1902, in Masmak Castle in Riyadh, The capital of present day Saudi Arabia.

In late 1901, following the end of the Second Saudi State the Al Saud clan was forced to move to Kuwait after Riyadh has fallen to the Al-Rashid family. Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud head of the clan requested supplies and men from the Kuwaiti Emir to retake his home town. The Kuwaiti prince, who was also involved in several wars with Rashidis, acceded to Ibn Saud's request and gave him horses and arms.

In January 1902, Ibn Saud and his men returned to Riyadh and successfully assaulted the castle. He captured and killed Ibn Ajlan (Chief of Riyadh), as this was the only way to capture the whole city with only 68 men. The city was captured within the same night.