Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad (Arabic: ترکي بن عبدالله بن محمد‎) (1755–1834) was the founder of the Second Saudi State and ruled in Najd from 1823–1834 following administration by the Ottoman Empire. His descendants would dominate both the Second and Third Saudi states.

Turki’s father was Abdullah bin Muhammad, who was himself the son of Muhammad bin Saud (founder of the First Saudi State) and the younger brother of Abdul-Aziz. This made Turki the first cousin once removed of Abdullah bin Saud, the latter being both Abdul-Aziz's grandson and the last ruling imam of the First State.

Turki fought in the defense of Diriyah against the Egyptians and escaped when this city was seized by Ibrahim Pasha in 1818, marking the end of the First Saudi State He spent the next two years in hiding due to the ensuing persecution of the Al Saud, with Abdullah bin Saud being sent to Constantinople to be executed by the Turks. Turki briefly collaborated with Mohammad bin Mushari bin Muammar (Ibn Muammar), an Arab client of Muhammad Ali, who aspired to rule Najd himself. However, when Mushari bin Saud-the last imam’s brother- escaped from Egyptian captivity to reassert Saudi rule, Turki joined him and was appointed governor of Riyadh. Ibn Muammar quickly crushed the revolt, however, and imprisoned Mushari. Turki retaliated by capturing Ibn Muammar and his son (also named Mushari). An attempt to exchange both men for Mushari bin Saud before the latter was returned to Egyptian custody failed, resulting in the execution of Ibn Muammar and his son. Turki was then forced back into hiding. By this time, many senior members of the House of Saud had been killed, exiled, or imprisoned, leaving Turki as one of the few within the family willing and able to assume leadership.

In 1823, Turki reemerged to form an alliance with Sawaid, the ruler of Jalajil in Sudair, and had soon established himself in Irqah. He made further incursions into Najd, in which he seized major settlements such as Durma and Manfuhah in order to isolate Riyadh and its Egyptian garrison. By August 1824, Riyadh itself came under siege and fell a few months later; Turki designated it as the new Saudi capital as Diriyah had been devastated and largely depopulated by the Egyptians during their occupation. Though he had succeeded in reestablishing a viable Saudi polity, Turki chose to remain a nominal vassal of the Ottomans due to what had happened to Abdullah bin Saud.

...
Wikipedia