Hassan II of Morocco

<p>Hassan II  was <a href="/facts/King_of_Morocco/ypYf2Tlt">King of Morocco</a> from 1961 until his death in 1999. A member of the <a href="/facts/Alawi_dynasty/JVUoW47D">Alawi dynasty</a>, he was the eldest son of King <a href="/facts/Mohammed_V_of_Morocco/wyHNhVgL">Mohammed V</a>, and his second wife Princess <a href="/facts/Lalla_Abla_bint_Tahar/kkDMMrYm">Abla bint Tahar</a>.
</p><p>He was named crown prince in 1957 and was the first commander-in-chief of the <a href="/facts/Royal_Moroccan_Armed_Forces/y9Qn9sPr">Royal Armed Forces</a>. He was enthroned as king in 1961 following his father's death. His reign was marked by the start of the <a href="/facts/Western_Sahara_conflict/bFHLVPXn">Western Sahara conflict</a> and the <a href="/facts/Sand_War/e4gap5Y9">Sand War</a>, as well as two failed coup attempts against him <a href="/facts/1971_Moroccan_coup_attempt/b5lTdjk5">in 1971</a> and <a href="/facts/1972_Moroccan_coup_attempt/XJGTcuRE">in 1972</a>. Hassan's conservative approach reportedly strengthened his rule over Morocco and the <a href="/facts/Western_Sahara/xAmSkuJl">Western Sahara</a>. He was accused of <a href="/facts/Authoritarianism/88Kfm2gU">authoritarian</a> practices, as well as <a href="/facts/Human_rights/WMW5XCdM">human rights</a> and civil rights abuses, particularly during the <a href="/facts/Years_of_Lead_(Morocco)/LdDwGRcc">Years of Lead</a>. A <a href="/facts/Equity_and_Reconciliation_Commission/cLyfYVDf">truth commission</a> was set up after his death to investigate allegations of human rights violations during his reign.
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Hassan II of Morocco open-in-new

Hassan II of Morocco