On Feb. 22, 1727, nearly 300 years ago, the process of establishing the first Saudi state began in Diriyah during the reign of Imam Mohammed bin Saud, founder of the Saudi ruling family.
Diriyah was established by his seventh grandfather, Mana’ Al-Muraidi in the 15th century AD.
Sixteen of his descendants became rulers, known as imams in the first and second Saudi states and as kings in the current Saudi state.
Al-Muraidi’s lineage goes back to Bani Hanifa from the Bakr bin Wael tribe, and he is related to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, through their common ancestor, Nizar bin Ma’ad bin Adnan.
He moved to the second Diriyah in Najd from the first Diriyah, which was founded by his ancestors in the east of the Arabian Peninsula.
