The Wahhabi Capture of the Hedjaz and the Conclusion of the Hadda and Bahra Agreements

two occurrences in March 1924 were undoubtedly important in ibn Sa'ud's decision to attack the Hedjaz in force. On March 5th 1924, Husain assumed the Caliphate which had been abolished by the Turkish Grand National Assembly two days earlier. ¹ Moreover, Britain's subsidy to ibn Sa'ud ceased as of March 31st. In view of Husain's latest provocation and the fact that the termination of the British subsidy meant that ibn Sa'ud had little to lose by antagonising the British, there was little to restrain the Wahhabi leader from unleashing his zealous followers on the Hedjaz.