like many other countries in western asia and eastern europe, saudi arabia was formed from a province of the former ottoman empire after world war I. its outlines were drawn by the western powers at versailles on the same map tables as those of iraq and yugoslavia. and like iraq it functioned as a british mandate until 1924 when ibn Saud of Najd, overran the Hedjaz including Mecca and Medina, and declared himself king in 1926. ibn Saud had 45 sons and 50 daughters, and died in 1953 at the age of 71.
one of these sons, Saud bin Abdul Aziz was King of Saudi Arabia from 1953 to November 2, 1964.
after driving Saudi Arabia into bankruptcy, Saud was deposed by his half brother Faisal, and abdicated in 1964.
Saud’s name was erased from many institutions and histories
ibn Saud’s second son Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud was next in line to succeed, but Saud was followed by Faisal instead.
the third son of Ibn Saud, Faisal ibn Abdel Aziz al-Saud King of Saudi Arabia from 1964 to 1975.
descended from Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab through his mother, he was dedicated to what he saw as fundamental Islamic principles and against the influence of modern western values, while simultaneously encouraging the adoption of certain modern technologies, with the notable exception of information technologies such as radio and television.
On October 17, 1973, Faisal withdrew Saudi oil from world markets, causing the price to quadruple overnight. Faisal’s action was the primary force behind the 1973 energy crisis.
Faisal ibn Abdel Aziz al-Saud was assassinated by his nephew, Faisal bin Musad on March 25, 1975.
Weeks later, Faisal bin Musad was beheaded in the public square in Riyadh.
Khalid bin Abdul Aziz King of Saudi Arabia from the assassination of King Faisal in 1975 until his own death in 1982.
full brother of Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz who declined succession in 1965 after Saud was deposed and again in 1982 after Khalid’s death.
King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud King of Saudi Arabia 1982-2005
Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud king of Saudi Arabia since 2005
half brother of Fahd.