Al Jawhara Bint Musaed Al Jiluwi

Al Jawhara bint Musaed bin Jiluwi Al Saud ( ar, الجوهرة بنت مساعد بن جلوي آل سعود ''Al Jawhara bint Musāʿid bin Jiluwī Āl Suʿūd''; 1891–1919) was one of the spouses of King Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. She was the mother of King Khalid, Prince Muhammad and Princess Al Anoud. King Abdulaziz admitted in 1951 that despite being married many times, Al Jawhara bint Musaed was his only love.

Background

Al Jawhara bint Musaed was from the Al Jiluwis, a cadet branch of the Al Saud. The family, Al Jiluwi, are significant for Al Sauds in that they are the descendants of the younger brother of Abdulaziz's grandfather Faisal bin Turki Al Saud, Prince Jiluwi bin Turki, who served as the governor of Unayzah during the reign of Faisal bin Turki.

Al Jiluwi and Al Sudairi were strong supporters of the Al Saud in the early years of state formation. The members of Al Jiluwi family allied themselves with Abdulaziz to eliminate the threat posed by the Al Kabir clan. For instance, Abdallah bin Jiluwi served as his deputy commander and helped him in the conquest of the eastern region of Arabia. He served as the governor of the Eastern Province from 1913 to 1938. Then, his son, Saud bin Abdullah, served as the governor of this province between 1938 and 1967. Next, another son, Abdul Muhsin bin Abdullah, served as the governor of the province from 1967 to 1985 until being replaced by Prince Muhammed bin Fahd.

Additionally, the members of Al Jiluwi intermarried with the Al Sauds. King Faisal, King Fahd, King Abdullah, Prince Sultan and Prince Nayef all married women from the Al Jiluwi clan.

Early life

Al Jawhara was born in 1891. She was the daughter of Musaed, a nephew of Faisal bin Turki Al Saud. Her mother was Hussa bint Abdullah bin Turki Al Turki. Al Jawhara's paternal grandparents were Prince Jiluwi bin Turki who was the son of Turki bin Abdullah and Noura bint Ahmed Al Sudairi who was the sister of King Abdulaziz's mother, Sara bint Ahmed Al Sudairi.

The full brother of Al Jawhara, Abdulaziz bin Musaed, was the governor of Hail Province. One of Abdulaziz bin Musaed's spouses was the sister of King Abdulaziz, Hussa bint Abdul Rahman. They had no child. The daughter of Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Al Jawhara bint Abdulaziz, was the wife of late Prince Nayef and the mother of Prince Saud and Prince Mohammad, former crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Another daughter, Al Anood bint Abdulaziz, was the first wife of King Fahd.

Marriage

The marriage of Al Jawhara and Abdulaziz was arranged by Sara bint Ahmed, Abdulaziz's mother. They married in 1908 when she was seventeen years old. She was the fourth spouse of King Abdulaziz. It was the only marriage of King Abdulaziz to one of the Al Saud members or a close relative.

Al Jawhara left him once due to the disputes, but soon they reunited. Their marriage produced three children; Prince Mohammad, King Khalid and Princess Al Anoud. Her daughter, Al Anoud, married to the sons of Saad bin Abdul Rahman. She first married Fahd bin Saad and they divorced in 1935. Then she married Saud bin Saad, brother of her ex-husband, in 1940.

In Spring 1913, before the capture of Al Hasa, Abdulaziz was in Hofuf and sent an ode to Al Jawhara. She was special for him for several reasons. First, Al Jawhara was his second cousin. Secondly, Abdulaziz's mother chose her as a wife for his son. And lastly, she died at a young age.

Activities

Al Jawhara bint Musaed was interested in horse riding and breeding. She formed a stable within the palace in Riyadh and hired the best Najdi horse riders to train cavalry who in turn contributed significantly to King Abdulaziz's attempts to unify Saudi Arabia. She donated her books to a local organization.

Death

Al Jawhara bint Musaed died in Riyadh in 1919 in the flu epidemic, which also killed Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz, eldest son of King Abdulaziz. Her death is reported to have devastated King Abdulaziz. He mourned for weeks and locked himself up in her room in the palace, and no one was allowed to enter the room except for Abdulaziz's sister, Noura bint Abdul Rahman. Her possessions were also kept untouched, and her maids continued to live in the palace.

King Abdulaziz visited Al Jawhara's grave each Friday after the morning prayers until the end of his life. In private meetings with his friends he talked about her stating that she was a great companion for him during the difficult times of establishing his rule.

Ancestry

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jiluwi, Al Jawhara Musaed
Al Jawhara
Al Jawhara
1891 births
1919 deaths
Deaths from Spanish flu
Al Jawhara
Al Jawhara