Masmak fort

The Fort Masmak is a fortress complex in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, which played a special role in the history of the country.

History

The fort was built around the year 1865 in the capital of the Arab tribe of Al- Saud. The al-Saud were weakened by internal dissensions so that they came in subsequent years under the supremacy of the Al- Rasheed from Ha'il to the north of Riyadh extended their own empire and subjugated the interior of the Arabian Peninsula. In 1891 she sold the al-Saud of Riyadh, who went into exile in Kuwait.

In January 1902, succeeded to the young Emir Abd al - Aziz ibn Saud, together with seven followers to overrun in a surprise attack the fort Masmak and take the city of Riyadh in possession. This attack on the fort in the commercial heart of the city and take possession of the ancestral since 1824 the territory of the al-Saud was the beginning of the conquest of the whole of present-day Saudi Arabia region, which was in 1932 completed the conquest of Asir.

Building

The fort was built Masmak on a stone foundation of mud-plastered mud brick in the center of today's Old City of Riyadh. On the corners of the square of thick walls are each watchtowers. The only entrance to the fort is a house built from palm trunks goal of 3.65 meters high and 2.65 meters wide. In the middle of the door is a door that is just wide enough for only one person into or in the fortress could get out.

Within the fort there is also a mosque and a fountain. The ceilings of the interior are made of painted palm trunks. The connecting doors in the maze-like layout of courtyards and rooms are also painted.

Use

Masmak Fort was used as a seat of government of the Kingdom from 1902 to 1938. Only then can a new palace, the Murabba Palace, north of Old Riyadh was completed. Both buildings are now used as museums and other buildings are part of the King Abduaziz Historical Centre of Riyadh.