Early Life

King Abdulaziz was born during the Second Saudi State. According to the most probable and official account, he was born in 1293 AH (1876 or 1877 AD).

He grew up in a time of rapid events, as the Second State neared its end, and he heard and saw what was happening within his own family. Imam Abdullah died in 1307 AH and Imam Abdulrahman, Abdulaziz’s father, began his reign. With it came the conflict with Mohammad ibn Rashid. At that time there were political centres in Al-Qassim, in Ha’il and in Riyadh, all belonging to the Second Saudi State, but they began to shift their allegiances.

A boy who was noticed

In 1308 AH, when Abdulaziz was fifteen, Mohammad ibn Rashid came to Al-Mulayda, where the Battle of Al-Mulayda was fought. He then marched on Riyadh and besieged it. Among the delegation sent to negotiate with him were the fifteen-year-old Abdulaziz and Sheikh Abdullah ibn Abdul-Latif.

Even at that age Abdulaziz stood out: he was broad, tall and impressive. After the delegation left, one of Ibn Rashid’s advisers, Saleh ibn Rakhees, a man known for his farasah (the ability to read people), told him privately that rule would most likely pass to “this boy” after him. Ibn Rashid hushed him, but the remark stayed in his mind.