Hassan II

Quick facts

Born

9 July 1929 wd

Place of birth

Rabat wd

Died

23 July 1999 wd

Place of death

Rabat wd

Citizenship

Morocco wd

Occupation

entrepreneur, politician, monarch, statesperson, diplomat, chancellor wd

Education

Collège Royal, Imperial College London, University of Bordeaux wd

Spouse

Lalla Latifa wd

Positions held wd

• chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity (12 June 1972 – 27 May 1973)
• King of Morocco (26 February 1961 – 23 July 1999)

Awards wd

• Order of the Yugoslav Star (1961)
• Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1961)
• honorary doctor of the University of Bordeaux (1963)
• Order of Pahlavi (1966)
• Collar of the Order of Charles III (1979)
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (1980)
• honorary doctor of the Paul Cézanne University (1988)
• Order of the Elephant (1988)
• Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Alfonso X (1989)
• Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry (1994)
• Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword (1994)
• Order of Ouissam Alaouite
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer
• Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
• Royal Victorian Chain

About

Hassan was born in Rabat during the reign of his father, Mohammed V, who would later lead Morocco to independence from French and Spanish rule. He was the eldest son of the sultan and received a dual education that combined traditional Islamic instruction with modern studies at the Royal College in Rabat, before pursuing legal studies at the University of Bordeaux. During the final years of the French protectorate, Hassan became increasingly involved in political and diplomatic affairs, accompanying his father during exile and later taking part in negotiations that culminated in Morocco's independence in 1956. As crown prince, he quickly emerged as a central political figure within the newly independent state and was named commander-in-chief of the Royal Armed Forces by his father.

Upon his accession to the throne in 1961, Hassan inherited a fragile political system as many parts of the country were still under foreign control, and police and military were scattered and often controlled by political parties. In 1962, he promulgated Morocco's first constitution, which formally established a constitutional monarchy and a multi-party political system while reserving extensive executive powers for the king. His early reign was marked by significant instability, including the Sand War with Algeria in 1963 and growing domestic opposition that culminated in the Casablanca protests of 1965. In response, he declared a state of exception and ruled by decree for several years. He oversaw the recovery of Sidi Ifni from Spain in 1969.

His position was further threatened by two major coup attempts—the Skhirat attack in 1971 and the air force attack in 1972—both of which he survived, reinforcing his determination to centralize power and maintain control…

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Questions

When was Hassan II born?

Hassan II was born on 9 July 1929 in Rabat.

What positions has Hassan II held?

Positions held by Hassan II include: chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity (1972–1973); King of Morocco (1961–1999).

Where did Hassan II study?

Hassan II was educated at Collège Royal, Imperial College London, University of Bordeaux.

Sources

1. Wikipedia (English): Hassan II · CC BY-SA 4.0
2. Wikidata item Q69103 · CC0 1.0
3. Image: Hassan II (1983).jpg by Christian Lambiotte (CC BY 4.0)

Last updated 31 October 2026 · facts checked 4 November 2026

Cite this page

"Hassan II". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/hassan-ii. Retrieved 4 November 2026.

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