Hassan II, full name Moulay Hassan (1929-1999), king of Morocco from 1961 to 1999.

Hassan was born in Rabat on July 9, 1929, the son of Mohammed V. He received his education in Rabat and qualified for the licentiate in law through the extension division of the University of Bordeaux in Rabat. France granted independence to Morocco in 1956, and the following year Hassan was invested as crown prince and made commander in chief of the Moroccan army. He was minister of defense and vice premier from 1960 until his ascension to the throne, on his father's death in February 1961. As king, Hassan instituted many social and economic reforms and sought greater unity with the other Arab countries of North Africa. His relatively conservative regime, however, aroused some leftist Arab countries, such as Algeria and Libya. In 1971 and 1972 Hassan survived two assassination attempts. His annexation of part of Western Sahara in 1976, and the rest of it in 1979, was popular at home. It earned him the hostility of Algeria, however, and also involved Morocco in a costly, continuing struggle with Saharan guerrillas, who sought an independent status for their territory. Internationally, Hassan was considered a friend of the West and an advocate of peace in the Middle East. As such, he was one of the few Arab leaders willing to maintain contacts with Israel. In the 1980s and 1990s he met with prime ministers of Israel to discuss peace negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Hassan died of a heart attack on July 23, 1999. He was succeeded by his son Mohammed VI.