Hassa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi

Hussa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi (; 1900–1969) was one of the wives of King Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, with whom she had seven sons and four daughters. Her sons included two future Saudi kings, Fahd and Salman, as well as Sultan bin Abdulaziz and Nayef bin Abdulaziz, who both later served as crown prince, both dying in that position. Her sons with Abdulaziz are commonly known as the Sudairi Seven.

Background Hussa bint Ahmed was a member of the influential Al Sudairi family from Najd. The family are part of the noble Dawasir tribe. The mother of King Abdulaziz, Sara bint Ahmed Al Sudairi, was also a member of the Sudairi family and daughter of Hussa's great-grandfather, Ahmed bin Muhammed Al Sudairi.

Hussa's mother was Sharifa bint Ali bin Mohammed Al Swayed. Her father, Ahmed bin Muhammed Al Sudairi, was a powerful chief of the Sudairi tribe and one of the early supporters of King Abdulaziz during the latter's attempts to conquer Saudi Arabia. Following the formation of the state, her father served as governor in Washm, Sudair, Qassim and Aflaj provinces. Her brothers were also appointed by King Abdulaziz as governors. Turki bin Ahmed was the governor of Asir Province; Abdulaziz bin Ahmed was the governor of the former provinces of Quraiyat al Milh and Wadi Sirhan; Khalid bin Ahmed was the governor of Tabuk Province; Muhammad bin Ahmed was the governor of Northern Province; Abdul Rahman bin Ahmad was the governor of Jauf and Musa'id bin Ahmed the governor of Jizan Province.

Early years and marriage Hussa bint Ahmed was born in the town of Al Ghat in 1900.

King Abdulaziz married her twice. She was his 8th wife, and first cousin once removed via Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Turki Al Sudairi. They first married in 1913 when she was thirteen-years-old. Hussa had a son from this marriage, Abdullah bin Muhammad.

It is assumed that King Abdulaziz remained in love with Hussa bint Ahmed, and therefore, forced his half-brother to divorce her so that he could remarry her. Hussa bint Ahmed had a private palace, but in 1938 she moved to the newly constructed Murabba Palace with King Abdulaziz. No other spouse of King Abdulaziz produced more sons than Hussa Al Sudairi. Hussa bint Ahmed became the most valued spouse of King Abdulaziz due to being mother of seven sons. Her sons with King Abdulaziz are known as the Sudairi Seven. They were also called the "magnificent seven." He was born in 1913 and died in 1919 during the Spanish flu pandemic. Jawahir bint Abdulaziz (died June 2015)

Two of her daughters married Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman's sons, younger brother of King Abdulaziz. Al Jawhara bint Abdulaziz was Khalid bin Abdullah's spouse, and Jawahir bint Abdulaziz was Mohammed bin Abdullah's wife.

Personal characteristics In addition to being the mother of seven sons, Hussa bint Ahmed had personal characteristics that made her the most valued spouse of King Abdulaziz. Firstly, she was very beautiful and had charm and a strong personality. and attempted to instill a sense of group feeling among her sons. In addition, she had effects on some decisions of King Abdulaziz. King Abdulaziz prayed that she would accompany him in the paradise.

Bandar bin Sultan describes his grandmother, Hussa, as a combination of Margaret Thatcher and Mother Teresa.

Her familial relations Hussa bint Ahmed is said to have organized daily dinner gatherings at her home for her sons and their families. She supported the idea of unity among her sons through these dinner gatherings. She was also known for emphasizing discipline and a driving work ethic in her sons.

Hussa bint Ahmed raised Bandar bin Sultan, the future Saudi ambassador to the United States of America, who was her grandson and a son of Sultan bin Abdulaziz. When Prince Bandar was eleven , he and his mother went to live with her in the palace after the death of King Abdulaziz. Another sister, Sultana bint Ahmed, was King Faisal's first wife and Abdullah Al Faisal's mother.

Death Hussa bint Ahmed died in Riyadh in 1969 at the age of 69. Funeral prayers were performed for her in the Great Mosque in Riyadh after the noon prayer attended by King Faisal and Crown Prince Khalid as well as a large number of senior princes and his sons.