Saudi&nbsp;Arabia&nbsp;held celebrations on Tuesday to commemorate for the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;its&nbsp;foundation nearly 300 years ago, choosing a date that downplays the central role played by clerics from the ultra-conservative&nbsp;Wahhabi school of Islam.

The government lined up events that include musical performances on&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;modern history, fireworks, drone shows and sound effects, with 3,500 performers taking part, state media reported.

The anniversary&nbsp;marks&nbsp;the day in 1727 when Mohammed bin Saud, founder of the&nbsp;first&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;state, took over the emirate of Diriyah - a remote town which now lies on the northwest edge of the&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;capital Riyadh.

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That was about 18 years before what historians generally consider as the beginning of the&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;state when bin Saud, a tribal leader, forged an alliance with Islamic preacher Mohammed ibn Abd al-Wahhab, whose purist doctrine is often referred to as Wahhabi Islam.

The agreement with the clergy boosted the legitimacy of the Al Saud rulers in exchange for lavish funding and influence granted to the&nbsp;conservative&nbsp;religious establishment over social issues, education and public morality - powers which have recently been curbed by the country's de facto leader.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reined in the religious police, opened the country to concerts and cinemas, lifted a ban on women driving and eased the guardianship system, which gives men significant control over the lives of their female relatives.

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A royal decree last month declared Feb. 22 an official holiday, known as "Founding&nbsp;Day", to be commemorated every year in recognition of "the commencement of the reign of Imam Muhammad bin Saud" and marking the start of the&nbsp;first&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;state.

"Mohammed ibn Abd al-Wahhab is being erased from&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;history," said Kristin Diwan, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

"This is the new&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;nationalism. It celebrates the Al Saud - tying the people directly to the royal family - and downplays the pivotal role played by religion in the&nbsp;founding&nbsp;of the state," Diwan said.&nbsp;

Saudi&nbsp;Arabia's Shura Council, an influential advisory body to the government, also approved last month a proposal to amend the law regulating the national flag and anthem. It was unclear if it will alter the content of the flag which includes the profession of Islamic faith: "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the prophet of God".

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The kingdom already celebrates National Day on Sept. 23, which commemorates the victory of Al Saud over rival tribes from Hejaz region and the conquest of the two holy sites of Islam, Mecca and Medina, in 1925. The kingdom was subsequently named the kingdom of&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia&nbsp;in 1932.

Saudi Arabia held celebrations on Tuesday to commemorate for the first time its foundation nearly 300 years ago, choosing a date that downplays the central role played by clerics from the ultra-conservative Wahhabi school of Islam.

Saudi Arabia held celebrations on Tuesday to commemorate for the first time its foundation nearly 300 years ago, choosing a date that downplays the central role played by clerics from the ultra-conservative Wahhabi school of Islam. The government lined up events that include musical performances on Saudi modern history, fireworks, drone shows and sound effects, with 3,500 performers taking part, state media reported. The anniversary marks the day in 1727 when Mohammed bin Saud, founder of the first Saudi state, took over the emirate of Diriyah - a remote town which now lies on the northwest edge of the Saudi capital Riyadh. Also read | Saudi Arabia: Job ad for women train drivers attracts 28,000 applicants for 30 posts That was about 18 years before what historians generally consider as the beginning of the Saudi state when bin Saud, a tribal leader, forged an alliance with Islamic preacher Mohammed ibn Abd al-Wahhab, whose purist doctrine is often referred to as Wahhabi Islam. The agreement with the clergy boosted the legitimacy of the Al Saud rulers in exchange for lavish funding and influence granted to the conservative religious establishment over social issues, education and public morality - powers which have recently been curbed by the country's de facto leader. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reined in the religious police, opened the country to concerts and cinemas, lifted a ban on women driving and eased the guardianship system, which gives men significant control over the lives of their female relatives. Also read | Erdogan says Turkey continuing 'positive dialogue' with Saudi Arabia A royal decree last month declared Feb. 22 an official holiday, known as "Founding Day", to be commemorated every year in recognition of "the commencement of the reign of Imam Muhammad bin Saud" and marking the start of the first Saudi state. "Mohammed ibn Abd al-Wahhab is being erased from Saudi history," said Kristin Diwan, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. "This is the new Saudi nationalism. It celebrates the Al Saud - tying the people directly to the royal family - and downplays the pivotal role played by religion in the founding of the state," Diwan said. Saudi Arabia's Shura Council, an influential advisory body to the government, also approved last month a proposal to amend the law regulating the national flag and anthem. It was unclear if it will alter the content of the flag which includes the profession of Islamic faith: "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the prophet of God". Also read | Saudi Arabia's first yoga festival organised in Jeddah The kingdom already celebrates National Day on Sept. 23, which commemorates the victory of Al Saud over rival tribes from Hejaz region and the conquest of the two holy sites of Islam, Mecca and Medina, in 1925. The kingdom was subsequently named the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.

Saudi Arabia for first time marks its founding, downplaying conservative roots

Sotheby’s will offer the historic Farnese Blue diamond at its Geneva sale in May, the first time it has been on the market.&nbsp;

The pear-shaped, 6.16-carat, fancy dark grey-blue stone has passed through the hands of the royals from four European dynasties, over the last 300 years. It was originally given to Queen Elisabeth Farnese of Spain as a wedding gift following her marriage to King Philip V in 1714.
<img alt="‘The Farnese Blue’ diamond" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44916e4a-aa52-4f77-8dc8-0aad68ddf353" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/pastedImage%20%281%29.png" />
The diamond will go under the hammer at the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction on May 15 with an estimated price of $3.7 million to $5.3 million.&nbsp;

Originating in the Golconda mines of India, it has traveled from Spain to France, Italy and Austria over the last three centuries.&nbsp;

It would be passed down through more than seven generations and, as Elisabeth's descendants married into other European families.

Sotheby's will be offering the gem at its Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale taking place in Geneva on May 15, 2018. The stone's value is calculated between $3,690,000 and $5,270,000.

The Farnese Blue will appear at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, London, New York, Singapore and Taipei, before coming to Geneva for display prior to the sale.
<img alt="‘The Farnese Blue’ diamond" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="06ac950a-2cac-4cdc-a2a2-57b172743b79" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/pastedImage.png" />
&nbsp;

The pear-shaped, 6.16-carat, fancy dark grey-blue stone has passed through the hands of the royals from four European dynasties, over the last 300 years

Sotheby’s will offer the historic Farnese Blue diamond at its Geneva sale in May, the first time it has been on the market. The pear-shaped, 6.16-carat, fancy dark grey-blue stone has passed through the hands of the royals from four European dynasties, over the last 300 years. It was originally given to Queen Elisabeth Farnese of Spain as a wedding gift following her marriage to King Philip V in 1714. The diamond will go under the hammer at the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels auction on May 15 with an estimated price of $3.7 million to $5.3 million. Originating in the Golconda mines of India, it has traveled from Spain to France, Italy and Austria over the last three centuries. It would be passed down through more than seven generations and, as Elisabeth's descendants married into other European families. Sotheby's will be offering the gem at its Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale taking place in Geneva on May 15, 2018. The stone's value is calculated between $3,690,000 and $5,270,000. The Farnese Blue will appear at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, London, New York, Singapore and Taipei, before coming to Geneva for display prior to the sale.

Historic ‘The Farnese Blue’ diamond to be auctioned at Sotheby’s sale after 300 years

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