Faisal bin Abd al-Aziz al-Saud [key], 1905–75, king of Saudi Arabia (1964–75), son of Ibn Saud, brother of Saud. Faisal led several military campaigns in the making of Saudi Arabia. In 1958 he became premier and foreign minister in the cabinet of his brother, King Saud. Faisal was removed from office in 1960, but was reinstated as premier in 1962. Due to poor health and domestic opposition, King Saud was forced to abdicate (Nov., 1964) by the ruling family in favor of the more popularly approved Faisal. After becoming king, Faisal effected far-reaching economic, administrative, and educational reforms. He joined with other Arab nations against Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1975, Faisal was shot and killed by one of his nephews; he was succeeded by his brother, Crown Prince Khalid.
See A. Bligh, From Prince to King (1984).
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