Hassan II of Morocco

Hassan II
الحسن الثاني
Amir al-Mu'minin
Hassan II in 1983
King of Morocco
Reign26 February 1961 – 23 July 1999
PredecessorMohammed V
SuccessorMohammed VI
Born(1929-07-09)9 July 1929
Dar al-Makhzen, Rabat, French protectorate in Morocco
Died23 July 1999(1999-07-23) (aged 70)
Rabat, Morocco
Burial
Royal Mausoleum, Rabat, Morocco
Spouse
(m. 1961)
Issue
Names
Hassan bin Mohammed bin Yusef al-Alawi
الحسن بن محمد بن يوسف العلوي
Arabicالحسن الثاني
DynastyAlawi
FatherMohammed V
MotherLalla Abla bint Tahar
ReligionSunni Islam
Signature
Education
Military career
Allegiance Morocco
 France (1952)
Service / branch Royal Moroccan Armed Forces
 French Navy (1952)
RankField Marshal
Battles / wars

Hassan II (Arabic: الحسن الثاني, romanizedal-Ḥasan aṯ-ṯhānī; 9 July 1929 – 23 July 1999) was King of Morocco from 1961 until his death in 1999. A member of the Alawi dynasty, he was the eldest son of King Mohammed V, and his second wife Princess Abla bint Tahar.

He was named crown prince in 1957 and was the first commander-in-chief of the Royal Armed Forces. He was enthroned as king in 1961 following his father's death. His reign was marked by the start of the Western Sahara conflict and the Sand War, as well as two failed coups d'état against him in 1971 and in 1972. Hassan's conservative approach reportedly strengthened his rule over Morocco and the Western Sahara.[1] He was accused of authoritarian practices and human rights, civil rights abuses, particularly during the Years of Lead. A truth commission was set up after his death, to investigate allegations of human rights violations during his reign.

  1. ^ Kwame Badu Antwi-Boasiako; Okyere B. "Traditional Institutions and Public Administration in Democratic Africa Archived 18 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine", (2009), p. 130.