Hassan II of Morocco was one of the most influential and controversial rulers in modern Moroccan history. Born in 1929 in Rabat, he was the son of Mohammed V, the monarch who played a central role in Morocco’s independence from French colonial rule in 1956. Hassan II inherited the throne in 1961 and went on to rule the country for nearly four decades.
His reign was marked by a strong centralization of power. Hassan II established a constitutional monarchy, but in practice, he retained significant authority over political life, the military, and religious institutions. He was regarded as both a political strategist and a figure who maintained stability in a region often affected by unrest.
