On March 25, 1975, Saudi Arabia’s third monarch, King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1906-1975), met a tragic end during a Muharram commemoration event. He sustained fatal gunshot wounds at close range, succumbing shortly after. The perpetrator was his own nephew.
The Shocking Assassination
King Faisal, aged 69, was greeting guests inside the palace when his nephew approached and fired several shots. Despite rushed medical intervention, the monarch passed away. Analysis confirmed the assassin suffered from mental instability. Initial rumors of CIA involvement surfaced but investigations concluded it was a lone act with no accomplices. Three months later, on June 18, 1975, the nephew faced public execution by beheading in Riyadh’s central square before thousands of onlookers.
Ascension Amid Family Turmoil
Faisal seized the throne in November 1964 after probing his half-brother, the second king, Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. He had wielded significant influence as prime minister during 1958-1960 and 1962-1964. Saud, who fled to Greece amid exile, died in 1969.
Transforming Saudi Arabia
Faisal spearheaded Saudi Arabia’s modernization, evolving its nomadic tribal society into a contemporary nation-state. He played a pivotal role in the 1973 October Middle East conflict, leveraging oil as a strategic tool to exert substantial domestic and international influence, outshining other Arab leaders. Vast oil revenues funded welfare reforms, including abolishing slavery and pioneering women’s education. Time magazine named him Person of the Year in December 1974.
Lasting Impact and Royal Lineage
Following Faisal’s death, French journalist Bruno Maissang chronicled his life in a four-part series titled ‘The Story of the Oil Giant Faisal.’ Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Korea, Yoon Kyung-do, highlighted in a 1975 interview the kingdom’s role as the world’s top oil producer and a key Arab ally, fostering close ties despite cultural differences like with Oman and Qatar.
Founded in 1932 when Abdulaziz unified the Arabian Peninsula, the kingdom follows agnatic seniority among his sons for succession. Of Abdulaziz’s estimated 45 sons from at least 22 wives, only 25 have ruled. Today, the seventh king, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, reigns as the 25th son. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known locally as ‘MBS,’ represents the first potential third-generation leader if he ascends.
