In the early twentieth century, King Ibn Saud rapidly expanded his power base in Nejd to establish the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, and became its first King. As part of this process of expansion, he married women from powerful Nejdi and other Arabian families to cement his control over all parts of his new domain. It is believed he married as many as 22 women as a result.[1] One of these marriages was to Hussa bint Ahmed Al Sudairi, a member of the powerful Al Sudairi clan[2] to which Ibn Saud's mother belonged.[3]