Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
أحمد الجابر الصباح
Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; أحمد الجابر الصباح
10th Ruler of Kuwait
Reign	29 March 1921 – 29 January 1950
Predecessor	Salim I
Successor	Abdullah III
Born	1885; Sheikhdom of Kuwait
Died	29 January 1950 (aged 64–65); Kuwait City, Sheikhdom of Kuwait
Spouse	Bazba bint Salim al-Sabah (Bibi Mariam); Hussa bint Ibrahim al-Ghanim; Şükriye Sultan; Nura al-Tahus; Munira al-Ayyar; Delal al-Mutalaqqim; Mariam bint Murait al-Huwailah
Issue	Abdullah; Muhammad; Jaber III; Sabah IV; Khalid; Nawaf I; Mishal I; Mansur; Faisal; Fahad; Munira; Hussa; Asena; Asma; Nuria; Muniyat; Badria; Nashmia; Al-Jazi; Al-Anud; Moza; Samiha; Fariha; Mishail; Sahira; Naima; Amthal; Nazila
House	Sabah
Father	Jaber II

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah KCSI KCIE (1885 – 29 January 1950) (Arabic: الشيخ أحمد الجابر الصباح) was the tenth ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait from 29 March 1921 until his death on 29 January 1950. He was the longest reigning ruler of Kuwait having reigned for a total 28 years and 305 days.^[2]

Biography

Ahmad was the son of Jaber II Al-Sabah, who was the eighth ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait between 1915 and 1917. He succeeded his uncle Salem Al-Sabah, the ninth ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait, in February 1921.^[2]

Ahmad was the lead cavalry commander, founder of the military of Kuwait and the Directorate of Public Security Force.^[3]^[4] Ahmad tasked his defense cavalry and infantry to Sheikh Ali Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah in the early 1920s and transferred the command of defense cavalry and infantry to Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah^[3]^[5]^[6] following the 1928 Battle of Al-Regeai.

In 1936, the Palestinian authorities asked for financial aid from Ahmad Al Jaber, but he refused the demand due to treaty relations that did not permit any dealings with countries apart from Britain. Due to this prevailing condition, Kuwaiti royals and other leading figures were barred from financially assisting the Palestinians.^[7] Regardless of these orders, many defied them and in July 1936 200 Iraqi dinars were collected to be sent to Palestine. Later that year in October 1936, leading merchant families in Kuwait formed a seven-man committee to aide the Palestinians and called for a public meeting. The intent was to raise awareness for the ongoing strike in Palestine and to gather funds for support. Al-Sabah was unable to stop this and discreetly left town on a hunting trip. ^[8]

During his last period of his reign he was the minister of finance from 1940 to 1950.^[9]

Personal life

Ahmad was married several times.^[10] Notable children include:

Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1905–1957); head of the Public Security Department.
Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1909–1975); 1st Defense Minister (1962–1964) to take charge of the Defense portfolio.^[11]
Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1926–2006); 13th Ruler and 3rd Emir of Kuwait (1977–2006).
Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1929–2020); 15th Ruler and 5th Emir of Kuwait (2006–2020).^[12]
Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1937–2023); 16th Ruler and 6th Emir of Kuwait (2020–2023)
Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (born 1940), current Emir of Kuwait (2023–present);^[13] formerly acting Minister (by protocol designation) and Deputy Commander of Kuwait National Guard.^[14]^[15]
Fariha Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1944–2018); philanthropist.
Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1945–1990); commando officer in the Kuwait Armed Forces, killed battling in defense of Dasman Palace.^[16]

Death

Ahmad died in 1950 at Dasman Palace in Kuwait.^[17]

Honors and awards

References

^ "Kuwait: Death of emir's brother Mansour Al-Ahmed | Gulf States Newsletter".
^ ^a ^b Anthony B. Toth (2005). "Tribes and Tribulations: Bedouin Losses in the Saudi and Iraqi Struggles Over Kuwait's Frontiers, 1921–1943". British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies. 32 (2): 145–167. doi:10.1080/13530190500281424. S2CID 154636834.
^ ^a ^b Kuwait National Guard Archives, Early Defense Cavalry & Infantry; Retrieved 3 March 2015 (Arabic)
^ Kuwait National Guard Archives, Early Defense Cavalry & Infantry led by His Highness Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine; Retrieved 4 March 2015 (Arabic Read)
^ Kuwait National Guard Archives, Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah and Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia; Retrieved 4 March 2015 (Arabic Read)
^ His Highness the Emir sponsors Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah "U.N.E.S.C.O (United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization) Award Ceremony"
^ Rosamarie Said Zahlan (2009). Palestine and the Gulf States. The Presence at the Table (PDF). New York and London: Routledge. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-415-80496-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2021.
^ Rosamarie Said Zahlan (2009). Palestine and the Gulf States. The Presence at the Table (PDF). New York and London: Routledge. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-415-80496-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2021.
^ "وزارة المالية - دولة الكويت". www.mof.gov.kw.
^ A.de L. Rush (ed.), Ruling Families of Arabia. Kuwait: The Ruling Family of Al-Sabah. Archive Editions, Archive International Group, Melksham, Oxon. 1991.
^ List of Kuwait Defense Ministers (in Arabic)
^ "Profile: Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah". BBC. 31 January 2006. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
^ "Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf nominates Sheikh Mishal as crown prince". Gulf News. 7 October 2020.
^ "Kuwait National Guard الحرس الوطني الكويتي–-". Archived from the original on 16 July 2006. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
^ Profile & Accomplishments of Kuwait National Guard Deputy Commander and acting Minister by Government Protocol Archived 19 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine; His Excellency Sheikh Meshal Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah; Retrieved 3 March 2015 (Arabic Read)
^ "When our flag lost its sky … and only hearts remembered". Arab Times. 1 July 2013.
^ Ismael, Jacqueline S. (1993). Kuwait : dependency and class in a rentier state ([2nd ed.] ed.). Gainesville: University Press of Florida. ISBN 0-8130-1186-8. OCLC 26800682.

External links

Regnal titles
Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah House of Sabah Born: 1885 Died: 29 January 1950
Preceded by Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah	Sheikh of Kuwait 1921–1950	Succeeded by Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah