Hassan II was born on July 9, 1929 in Rabat, Morocco. He was the eldest son of Sultan Mohammed ben Youssef, who later became King Mohammed V. In 1961, he became King of Morocco following the death of his father.
During his reign, King Hassan II carried out numerous political, economic and social reforms. He modernized the country, built major infrastructure, such as dams and highways, and developed educational and social programs to improve the living conditions of his people.
He also contributed to regional and international stability by playing a key role in resolving several regional conflicts, notably the Western Sahara war and the Strait of Gibraltar crisis.
Despite his commitment to modernizing the country, Hassan II’s reign was also marked by the repression of political opposition and human rights violations. However, he worked to promote religious and cultural tolerance within the country, and was praised for his support of the arts and culture.
King Hassan II died on July 23, 1999 at the age of 70. He was succeeded by his son, King Mohammed VI.
