Profile of Saudi King Salman — The Return of “The Sudairi Seven”
“The Sudairi Seven” rule is backed in Saudi Arabia today after the death of King
“The Sudairi Seven” is referred to powerful alliance of seven full brothers within the House of Saud who are son of late Hassa bint Ahmad Al Sudairi , 8th wife of King Abdulaziz. She died in 1969 and was very influential wife of the King. New King Salman is the second son of Hassa bint Ahmad Al Sudairi who took over the crown after the death of King Abdullah .
The oldest brother of The Sudairi Seven” Fahd, served as king from 1981 to 2005 and his two brothers were crown princes died before becoming the king and kingship went to late King Abdullah. There are currently three surviving members, including the present king.
According to Arab historians, the founder of House of Saud King Abdulaziz expanded his power base in Nejd to establish the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 and as a part of this process of expansion; he married 22 women from powerful Nejdi and other Arabian families to cement his control over all parts of his new domain. One of these marriages was to Hassa bint Ahmad Al Sudairi, a member of the Al Sudairis, a powerful clan in Nejd, where the Wahhabi ideology emerged nearly 300 years ago. Sudairis are considered as True Followers of Wahabism. There is possibility to revert some concessions given by the late King to women and people of other faiths under the rule of new King.
He had following children from his wife Hassa bint Ahmad Al Sudairi:
King Fahd (1921–2005), the fifth King of Saudi Arabia from 13 June 1982 to 1 August 2005
Prince Sultan (1929–2011), Defense Minister from 1962 to 22 October 2011 and Crown Prince from 2005 to 22 October 2011 (till his death)
Prince Abdul Rahman (born 1931), Deputy Defence Minister from 1978 to November 2011
Prince Nayef (1934–2012), Interior Minister from 1975 to 2012, First Deputy Prime Minister and Crown Prince from 27 October 2011 to 16 June 2012
Prince Turki (born 1934), Deputy Defence Minister from 1968 to 1978
King Salman (born 1935), Governor of Riyadh from 1963 to 5 November 2011, Minister of Defence since 5 November 2011 till becoming the King on January 23, 2015, He became Crown Prince on June 18, 2012.
Prince Ahmed (born 1942), Deputy Interior Minister from 1975 to June 18 2012, Interior Minister from June 18, 2012 to November 5, 2012.
King Abdulaziz had 37 sons but “Sudairi Seven” is the largest bloc of full brothers and therefore brothers were able to wield a degree of coordinated influence and power.
The influence of the Sudairi Seven on Saudi political outfit is mostly due to their sole interest in politics while other sons of King Abdulaziz were more interested in businesses, leisure and foreign dominance life style.
The rise of Sudairto power can be traced back to the accession of King Faisal and his earlier struggle with King S Seven is attributed to slain King Faisal because he relied upon his seven Sudairi step brothers. In 1962, as prime minister the then Prince Faisal appointed Prince Fahd as Interior Minister, Prince Sultan as Defense Minister, and Prince Salman as governor of Riyadh and all these were key posts.
King Faisal was murdered in 1975 and King Khalid took charge and Prince Fahd became Crown Prince and Prince Nayef succeeded him at the Ministry of Interior.
