An icon of the history of Riyadh and Saudi Arabia
The history of the Saudi kingdoms
The history of Riyadh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are intrinsically linked to the Al-Saud family. This epic history starts in 1446 when Mani Al-Muraydi, an ancestor of the family, moved from the east of Arabia to Wadi Hanifah, a valley located in the central plateau called Najd.
In 1744 CE the first Saudi Kingdom was founded by Mohammed ibn Saud in the city of Diriyah on the banks of the Wadi Hanifah. In 1773 CE AbdulAziz bin Mohammed Al-Saud incorporated Riyadh in the first Saudi State. In 1817 Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt overthrew the Saudi rulers but in 1824 a second Saudi kingdom was established by Turki bin Abdallah bin Mohammed Al-Saud in Riyadh, just 30 kilometers southeast of Diriyah. This second kingdom was overthrown in 1891 by the Al-Rashid family from Hail and the Al-Saud family was driven into exile in Kuwait. But shortly after, in 1902, AbdulAziz Al-Saud led a successful expedition that seized Riyadh where he reinstalled the reign of the Al-Saud and from where he reconquered the kingdom of their ancestors. Hence Riyadh became the capital of the third Saudi Arabian Kingdom, a position it continues to hold today.
Entrance of the Al-Masmak Fort (photo: Florent Egal)
The central role of Al-Masmak
The decisive event that sealed the victory of AbdulAziz in Riyadh was the seizing of the Al-Masmak Fort that used to protect the old city of Riyadh. As the fortification was not only hosting the garrison of Riyadh but also its administration, control of Al-Masmak meant control of the Riyadh area, which was the first step towards the control of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as we know it today. With the conquest of the kingdom the Al-Masmak Fort was turned into a warehouse for ammunition and then became a prison. Today the fort is a museum where the history of the Al-Saud family and their kingdoms is exhibited and explained.
Well of the Al-Masmak Fort (photo: Florent Egal)
The Fort
The name 'Masmak' is derived from the Arabic ‘musamaka’ which refers to a strong building, a stronghold, or a fortress. Its rectangular shape comprises characteristic features of Arabian fortresses with four defensive towers, a watchtower, high walls, stair-shaped crenellations, and triangular reconnaissance points and firing apertures. Its numerous rooms include offices and a mosque with columns that support the roof, and one of the courtyards has a well.
Mosque of the Al-Masmak Fort (photo: Florent Egal)
Court of the Al-Masmak Fort (photo: Florent Egal)
A visit leads people through most of the fort and in each room are old pictures and artefacts that tell the epic history of the Al-Saud family along with the conquest of the fort and the Saudi Kingdoms.
How to visit Al-Masmak
The location of Al-Masmak is available on Google Maps and the fort can be visited within opening hours.
If you want to take the most of your visit and have more perspective of the history of Saudi Arabia you can go there with one of our guides.
