Saudis celebrate on Tuesday the founding of the Kingdom 300 years ago by the first founder, Imam Mohammad bin Saud, on February 22, 1727.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz had issued an unprecedented Royal Decree in January declaring February 22 as Saudi Founding Day. It was declared a national holiday that will be celebrated every year, reflecting the people's pride in their nation and its leadership since the founding and until modern times.
Imam Mohammad established the state in Diriyah, his birthplace. Born in 1679, he dedicated his entire life to forming and leading the nation until his death in 1765.
Historians credit him for transforming the city state in Diriyah into the First Saudi State, the founding of which was a landmark event in the Najd region.
The state extended its influence throughout the Arabian peninsula, reaching beyond to Iraq and the Sham region where some local tribes paid taxes to the new state.
The leaders of the new state succeeded in establishing its foundations and preserving its stability, but they were threatened and opposed by foreign and local powers.
The tensions came to a head with the assassination of Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammad bin Saud, the son of the founder, in the capital Diriyah.
Imam Abdulaziz succeeded his father in rule and is remembered as one of the greatest leaders to have ruled the peninsula. His military and leadership skills allowed him to expand the state to Najd, al-Ahsa, Asir and parts of the Hijaz regions, as well as the Arab Gulf coast.
His armies repelled Ottoman incursions and they also entered the holy city of Makkah in 1803 without any blood being shed.
He was succeeded by his son, Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Mohammad, who would later be known as "Saud the Great". He followed in his father's footsteps in expanding the influences of the state and consolidating reforms. He did not expand the borders of the nation beyond the Arabian peninsula, while tribes in Iraq and the Sham continued to pay taxes.
His unification of the Hijaz region riled Ottoman rulers and they launched military campaigns to destroy the Saudi state and seize the two Holy Mosques.
Imam Saud passed away in 1814. He was succeeded by his son Abdullah, who waged seven years of war with the hostile Ottomans. Despite the Saudis' brave resistance, they could not defeat the invaders and the state was declared lost.
After years of chaos, Imam Turki bin Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Saud managed to capture Riyadh from the Ottomans in 1824. He then founded the Second Saudi State, which collapsed in 1891 with the ouster of Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal from the city.
In 1902, King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman managed to reclaim Riyadh to declare the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The third founder established the foundations of the modern state, which witnessed gradual development in all domains under his reign and the reign of his sons: Kings Saud, Faisal, Khalid, Fahad and Abdullah.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz became the seventh Saudi king and Mohammed bin Salman was named crown prince. During his reign the Kingdom witnessed a qualitative shift in the political, economic and social spheres that was lauded at home and abroad. Their leadership improved all aspects of life with their sights set on building the nation of the future, while establishing Saudi Arabia as a major player on the international arena.
The rulers of Saudi Arabia have assumed different titles in the past three centuries: imam, king and later custodian of the two Holy Mosques followed by "king". Founder Mohammad bin Saud was the first to assume the title imam, as did his sons and grandsons who came to rule.
The third founder, Abdulaziz, was the first to take the title king. King Fahad bin Abdulaziz, the fifth king of the Third State, was the first to take the title of custodian of the two Holy Mosques. His successors also assumed the same title, with Salman bin Abdulaziz adding "king" after the title and before his name.
King Salman has received several cables of congratulations from Gulf leaders on the occasion of Founding Day, with celebrations scheduled throughout the day to mark the event.
