They had risen as a religious movement in Dira’iyya in the Nejd in 1744-1745.[21] Their doctrine found few sympathisers in the Hejaz, and the Mufti of Mecca pronounced them heretics.[21] They were able to take the two holy cities in 1801.[21] In 1803 the Wahhabis, led by Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, attacked Mecca.[22] Sharif Ghalib fled to Jeddah, which was besieged shortly thereafter. Sharif Ghalib was sent back to Mecca as a Saudi vassal.[22]