The Recapturing of Riyadh and The Birth of King Saud (1313 H)

King Saud was born on the 5th of Shawal 1319H / January 15th 1902). He was brought up in Kuwait in the house of his grandfather al Imam Abdul Rahman Bin Faisal and his grandmother Sarah, daughter of Ahmad Al Sudairi, who loved him so much because she saw in her grandchildren her absent son who was running risks and fighting battles to restore the glory of his forefathers and to unite the country. The fact that Saud and his brother Turki were close to their grandparents during their childhood had. a great influence on their education. Thus their elderly relatives tell that their grandmother used to treat them as men and not as children from an early age.
 
When King Abdul Aziz conquered Riyadh, he asked his father and his family to come to the city in the year (1319H-¬1902). And so Wadha returned with her children and Imam Abdul Rahman but the rest of the women came back with King Abdul Aziz after the battle of Dilm in the year 1320H.
 
When Saud was five years old, his father Abdul Aziz presented him to Sheikh Abdul Rahman Bin Mufairij one of the greatest readers of the Holy Quran at that time, who owned the school of Al Mufairij, the most recognized school in Riyadh city in teaching the Quran. Thus, Abdul Aziz wanted Sheikh Abdul Rahman to teach his son religion jurisprudence, Hadith and interpretation. And so Sheikh Abdul Rahman fmished teaching him the Quran when he was eleven years old. Moreover, his father made him attend with his brother Turky, his sessions and those of his grand father Al imam Abdul Rahman he also gave them all his care and love and when Saud grew up he started to gain the trust of his father and to carry the responsibility of the military, political administrative front independently. King Abdul Aziz entrusted him with duties that made him become experienced in foreign policy after he studied political science and diplomacy under Abdallah Al Damlouji and Sheikh Hafez Wehbe who were among the pillars of his father's court during that time. The fact that Saud   stayed constantly with his father and grandfather made him acquire the customs and traditions of the tribes and the desert and to deal with them. Thus, he became skillful in javelin throwing, hunting, and horseback riding. Since his early age, he liked the desert life and went with his father on his military expeditions. Moreover, he witnessed battles and how to plan for them until he became in no time, among the greatest assistants of his father King Abdul Aziz in serious political situations when the King was in great need of people like him. Several families, local and foreign sources including the diplomatic ones mention that King Saud resembled his father so much physically and morally. In addition, he was known for being generous and honest. He also had the tendency to forgive; however, he was firm and strict whenever he had to be. Plus, he had a powerful physique, and he listened to his interlocutors more than he spoke to them. King Abdul Aziz tested the abilities of Saud in being patient and perseverant and he developed his skills in leadership and in the tactics of dealing with the tribes and knowing their origins. This approach had a great influence on them because he gained their trust and they accepted him as their leader and advisor. King Abdul Aziz used to accompany his sons, once they reach adulthood, during his invasions; Turki and Saud were pioneers in this aspect. The first battle in which Saud and Turki participated was the battle of Jrab, which took place near Zelfi. It was against Prince Hael Mataab Bin Al Rasheed, [in the year (1333H - 1915)] who entered the battlefield aggressively. Saud at that time was thirteen years old and we couldn't find additional information that tells about his role in this battle except that when King Abdul Aziz returned to Al Quassim, he ordered his two sons to come back to Riyadh with their brother Muhammad who was born in the year (1328H / 1910). This battle was famous because of the killing of Captain Shakespeare, the British political representative in Kuwait who was among the supporters of King Abdul Aziz and his friend also. The battle of Jrab took place after King Abdul Aziz invaded Al Ihsa in the year (1333H-1914). Captain Shakespeare was in the battle of Jrab because he came to visit King Abdul Aziz and negotiate with him the terms of the treaty between Britain and his Emirate.
And so, King Abdul Aziz suggested that he stayed in Zelfi until the battle is over but Shakespeare decided to participate. The battle was over and no one achieved victory over the other. By signing this treaty with Britain, King Abdul Aziz was hoping to attain immunity from the repeated military assaults carried out by the Ottomans and their representatives and a financial and military aid to fight against Al Rasheed. But the death of Shakespeare put off the signing of the treaty till the beginning of the year (l334H - 1915), that is, the delay was for approximately a year. After signing the treaty, King Abdul Aziz received from the British authorities, financial aid worth twenty thousand sterling pounds and one thousand rifles with bullets. He was also allowed to easily import extra amounts when he deems it necessary through Bahrain. The battle of Jrab was a decisive point in Saud's life because he closely experienced for the first time, how battles take place, negotiations are made and political agreements are ratified. King Abdul Aziz appreciated his son's patience, perseverance, power and courage in addition to his readiness and ability to assimilate the war strategies and to react to them at on early age. Thus, he started to rely on Saud little by little and he made him attend his missions. He also gave him some responsibilities in order to teach him and to add to his experience in several fields, which are considered to be necessary for a youth at his age, such as being present with him during the battle of Abu Layla near al Ihsa against the Sheikhs of Bani Hajer. The war continued with the tribes of Al Ojman including the battle of Kazan in which Saad Bin Abdul Rahman was killed and King Abdul Aziz was wounded. In addition the relations between King Abdul Aziz and Sheikh Mubarak Al Sabah who died in (l334H / 1915) became strained. And so, Sheikh Mubarak's son, Jaber, came into power. Jaber had cordial relations with Abdul Aziz but he passed away one year after coming into power. After his death, his brother, Salem Mubarak Al Sabah took over. [This latter] did not refrain from expressing his negative feelings towards Abdul Aziz in public and from adopting a belligerent policy towards him. Thus, King Abdul Aziz started to face dangers from all sides because, in addition to the new ruler of Kuwait, there was Bin Al Rasheed in the north and the Sharifs in the west and some surrounding tribes. This prediction of what might lie ahead was the major or factor that made Abdul Aziz resort to sign an agreement with a powerful country. Thus, he saw in this step a helping hand in facing the risks, which made him more in need of his sons in supporting him.