Episode Details

On this episode of pplpod, we explore the dramatic rise of Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud—known to the world as Ibn Saud—the tribal leader who founded the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Join us as we cover:

• The Exile’s Return: How Ibn Saud launched his conquest in 1902 by scaling the walls of Riyadh with just 40 men and tilted palm trees to reclaim his family’s ancestral home.

• Consolidating Power: The decades-long campaign to unify the Nejd and Hejaz, from defeating the rival Rashidi dynasty to suppressing the fanatical Ikhwan revolt.

• Oil and Geopolitics: The 1938 discovery that transformed the region's destiny and Ibn Saud’s historic meeting with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the USS Quincy.

• The Man Behind the Monarch: A look at his charismatic personality, his 22 consorts, and his 45 sons, who have continued to rule the kingdom to this day.

From a refugee in Kuwait to a statesman commanding vast petroleum wealth, discover the story of the man who reshaped the Middle East.