Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

Role / Field:

King of Saudi Arabia, known for his role in modernizing the kingdom's governance.

Born:

1924-08-01

Died:

2015-01-23

Century / Era:

1924s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1 August 1924 – 23 January 2015) was King and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia from 1 August 2005 until his death in 2015. Prior to his accession, he was Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia from 13 June 1982. He was the tenth son of King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia. Abdullah was the son of King Abdulaziz and Fahda bint Asi Al Shuraim. His mother was a member of the Al Rashid dynasty, historical rivals of the Al Saud dynasty.

Career & Major Achievements

Abdullah held important political posts throughout most of his adult life. In 1961 he became mayor of Mecca, his first public office. The following year, he was appointed commander of the Saudi Arabian National Guard, a post he was still holding when he became king. He also served as deputy defense minister and was named crown prince when his half-brother Fahd took the throne in 1982. After King Fahd suffered a serious stroke in 1995, Abdullah became the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia until ascending the throne a decade later.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

During his reign, Abdullah maintained close relations with the United States and the United Kingdom and bought billions of dollars' worth of defense equipment from both states. Abdullah maintained the status quo when there were waves of protest in the kingdom during the Arab Spring. He held four of his daughters, which he fathered with Al Anoud Al Fayez whom he married when she was age 15, captive against their will. The three crown princes during Abdullah's reign were among the full brothers of King Fahd. Upon becoming king in 2005, Abdullah appointed his half-brother Sultan bin Abdulaziz as crown prince.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1924 (1924-08-01): Birth of Abdullah of Saudi Arabia — King of Saudi Arabia, known for his role in modernizing the kingdom's governance.
2. 1961: 1961 Milestone — In 1961 he became mayor of Mecca, his first public office.
3. 1982: 1982 Milestone — Prior to his accession, he was Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia from 13 June 1982.
4. 1995: 1995 Milestone — After King Fahd suffered a serious stroke in 1995, Abdullah became the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia until ascending the throne a decade later.
5. 2005: 2005 Milestone — Upon becoming king in 2005, Abdullah appointed his half-brother Sultan bin Abdulaziz as crown prince.
6. 2015 (2015-01-23): Passing & Historical Legacy — Abdullah of Saudi Arabia passed away on 2015-01-23, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Notable Quotes by Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

“God Almighty, in His wisdom, tests the faithful by allowing such calamities to happen. But He, in His mercy, also provides us with the will and determination, generated by faith, to enable us to transform such” (2001)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

True or False: “Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was appointed commander of the Saudi National Guard in 1963.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He was appointed to this post in August 1963, but the text states he replaced Saad bin Saud, a son of King Saud.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Al-Qushayri — Shared historical date (08-01 · Born) (986): Eminent Arab scholar, Sufi philosopher, and master of Islamic sciences.
• Alphonsus Liguori — Shared historical date (08-01 · Died) (1787): Italian bishop, theologian, and founder of the Redemptorists.
• Abraham ibn Ezra — Shared historical date (01-23 · Died) (1167): Distinguished 12th-century Sephardic rabbi, philosopher, and biblical commentator.
• Akaji Maro — Shared historical date (01-23 · Born) (1943): Pioneering Japanese butoh performer, director, and acclaimed film actor.
• 1924 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1924
• August 1 (08-01) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 1
• 2015 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2015
• January 23 (01-23) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 23

Frequently Asked Questions about Abdullah of Saudi Arabia