Al Masmak Palace

{{Short description|Fort in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox Historic building | name = Al Masmak Palace | image = Masmak Fort (12753717253).jpg | caption = Entrance to the fortress | image_size = 300px | map_caption = Location of the Masmak Fort in Riyadh | location_town = Riyadh | location_country = Saudi Arabia | construction_start_date = 1865 | completion_date = 1895 | architectural_style = Najdi architecture | native_name = قصر المصمك | native_name_lang = ar | alternate_names = Masmak Fortress<br/>Masmak Palace | address = Qasr al-Masmak, Al Imam Turki ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammad, Dirah, Riyadh 12652 }}

'''Al Masmak Palace''' ({{langx|ar|translit=Qaṣr al-Maṣmak|قصر المصمك}}), also called the '''Masmak Fortress''' or '''Masmak Fort''', is a historic clay and mudbrick fort in the ad-Dirah neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, located in close proximity to the al-Hukm Palace in the Qasr al-Hukm District. Commissioned in 1865 by Abdullah bin Faisal Al Saud, it was completed in 1895 following the takeover of the town by the Rashidi dynasty.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Masmak Fortress {{!}} Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Attractions|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/saudi-arabia/riyadh/attractions/masmak-fortress/a/poi-sig/423857/361148|access-date=14 July 2020|website=Lonely Planet|language=en}}</ref> The fortress was the main theatre for the Battle of Riyadh in 1902, which marked the prelude to the unification of Saudi Arabia.<ref name="BB2009">{{cite book |author1=Jonathan M. Bloom |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=un4WcfEASZwC&pg=RA2-PA152 |title=The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture: Delhi to Mosque |author2=Sheila Blair |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-19-530991-1 |page=2}}</ref> It was opened to the general public in 1995 after its conversion into a museum.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=مدينة الرياض |url=https://riyadh.sa/en/ |access-date=2020-08-11 |website=riyadh.sa}}</ref>

==History== The construction of the fort was started by Abdullah bin Faisal, Emir of Najd, in 1865.<ref>{{cite journal|author=H. St. J. B. Philby|title=Riyadh: Ancient and Modern|journal=Middle East Journal|date=Spring 1959|volume=13|issue=2|page=136|jstor=4323104 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4323104}}</ref> It was completed in 1895 by Emir of Riyadh, 'Abdurrahman ibn Sulaiman under the reign of Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Rashid, the ruler of the Emirate of Jabal Shammar and head of the House of Rasheed, who had wrested control of the city from the local House of Saud, who later went into exile. It was built with four watchtowers and thick walls, with a foundation of stone blocks, lying in the center of Riyadh, in the old city, part of the modern Deira district. It is one of the only historic buildings that has survived in the kingdom. The building was situated in the commercial center of historic Riyadh.<ref name="BB2009"/>

In January 1902, Emir 'Abdulaziz ibn Saud Al Saud, who was at the time living in exile in Kuwait, returned to Riyadh and led an ambush against the Masmak fortress, regaining it from the House of Rasheed in the Battle of Riyadh. The event, which restored Saudi control over Riyadh, is considered one of the most important in the completion of the Unification of Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 December 2018|title=Al-Masmak Fort|url=http://www.saudiarabiatourismguide.com/al-masmak-fort/|access-date=14 July 2020|website=Saudi Arabia Tourism Guide|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Al Masmak Fortress|url=https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/see/highlights/Al-Masmak-Fortress|access-date=14 July 2020|website=visitsaudi.com|language=en}}</ref> It was used as a munitions warehouse from 1902 to 1938 by King Abdulaziz before he moved his court to then newly built Murabba Palace.<ref name="simbacom1">{{cite web|title=Historic Riyadh|url=http://www.simbacom.com/riyadh-ksa/historic/mismak.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619021947/http://www.simbacom.com/riyadh-ksa/historic/mismak.html|archive-date=19 June 2013|accessdate=22 July 2013|work=Simbacom}}</ref>

In 1979, the Municipality of Riyadh prepared a study for the restoration of the Masmak, following which a renovation of the fortress began.<ref name=msa2012>{{cite web|year=2012|title=Riyadh|url=http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1w8n2/MeetSaudiArabia2012E/resources/14.htm|accessdate=22 July 2013|work=Meet Saudi Arabia}}</ref> Their vision was realized in 1995 when the Ministry of Education and the Supreme Commission for the Development of Riyadh converted the building into a museum, making it an integral part of Saudi heritage.<ref name=":0"/> It was later incorporated into the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre, a series of restored buildings in Riyadh.<ref name=msa2012/> Centennial celebrations were held in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-13 |title=Masmak Fort: The birthplace of modern Saudi nation |url=https://www.arabnews.com/travel/news/819876 |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=Arab News |language=en}}</ref>

=== Al Masmak Palace Museum === The Palace Museum displays live photos and information panels of the history of the kingdom, historic maps of Riyadh, antique guns, costumes and agricultural artifacts.

== Architecture == The Masmak can be divided into six distinct parts: the gate, the mosque, the ''majlis,'' the well, the towers and the courtyard. thumb|267x267px|Model of Masmak Citadel

===Gate=== The main gate of the palace is located in the western wall, measuring {{Cvt|3.6|m||abbr=}} high and {{Cvt|2.65|m||abbr=}} wide. It is {{Cvt|10|cm||abbr=}} thick and is made of palmwood. There is an opening on the center of the door, called ''al-Khokha'', which is just big enough for one person to pass at a time, and is a defensive feature designed to allow people in and out without opening the door.

===Mosque=== The mosque is located to the left of the entrance. It is a large room supported by several columns with shelves in the walls for placing ''mus'hafs'' of the Quran. A ''mihrab'' can be found in the mosque, and there are holes in the walls to provide ventilation.

===Majlis=== It is located directly ahead of the entrance and is a room in the shape of a rectangle. On the wall facing the entrance and the southern wall, there are holes in the walls for ventilation and lighting, similar to those found in the mosque. thumb|Southwestern tower of the fortress|alt=|258x258px

===Well=== The well is located in the northeastern corner of the fortress.

===Watchtowers=== In each of the corners of the mosque are conical towers, each approximately {{Cvt|18|m||abbr=}} high. The towers are accessed through staircases located inside them. The walls of the towers are especially thick, with a thickness of {{Cvt|1.25|m||abbr=}}.

===Courtyard=== The courtyard is surrounded by rooms with columns connected to each other internally, and it has stairs on the eastern side leading to the first floor and roofs, and there are three residential units, the first served as the residence of the ruler, the second used as a ''bayt al-mal'', and the third was allocated for the accommodation of guests.

==See also== {{Portal|Saudi Arabia}} * List of museums in Saudi Arabia * Majlis

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20101214030732/http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=11681 Plan and Photographs] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130808052430/http://360saudiarabia.com/virtual_tours/1/Palace-of-King-Abdul-Aziz-Al-Kharj Virtual tour of the fort]

Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 19th century Category:1995 establishments in Saudi Arabia Category:Forts in Saudi Arabia Category:History of Najd Category:Ottoman Arabia Category:Buildings and structures in Riyadh Category:History museums in Saudi Arabia Category:Museums established in 1995 Category:Tourist attractions in Riyadh Category:Castles in Saudi Arabia