Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad

Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad (ترکي بن عبدالله) (1855-1834) was the founder of the Second Saudi State and ruled the area of Najd during the period from 1821-1834 following administration by the Ottoman Empire.

Kingship

Leadership of the House of Saud passed to his own branch of the family after the death of Abdullah bin Saud in 1818 by Egyptian forces at Diriyah. To avoid capture Turki escaped into the desert after the fall of Diriyah. He found refuge among the al-Khorayef princes of the tribes of Bani Tamim.

In 1821, he emerged out of hiding to lead a revolt against the Egyptians and was successful in establishing his position as ruler of Diriyah and surrounding area. He adopted Riyadh as the new capital.

In 1827, he survived a revolt led by Mushari bin Abdul-Rahman bin Mushari, a distant cousin. However he was assassinated by him later in 1834. Turki was succeeded by his son Faisal, who was in a military operation to the east.

Branches of the House of Saud

Turki was the progenitor of three major branches of the Saud family

• The Al Faisal- through his son Faisal - this is the branch to which the present line of Saudi monarchs belongs.
  • The Saud Al-Kabir- the merging of two branches with the marriage of Saud bin Faisal with the family of Abdullah bin Saud
• The Al Jiluwi- through his son Jiluwi- born while Turki was in exile
• The Al Turki- through his son Abdallah

References

• Second State of Saudi Arabia