Sovereign: Mohammed VI, King of Morocco (Rabat, Morocco, August 21st, 1963.
Son of King Hassan II (1929-1999) and Lalla Latifa Hammou.
Succeeds his father King Hassan II (1929-July 23rd, 1999).
Inauguration: Throne Room, Royal Palace, Rabat, July 30th, 1999.
Motto: Allah, al Watan, al Malik (God, Nation, King).
Religion: Islam.
Married (2002): Salma Bennani (1978) - now Princess Lalla Salma.
Children:
Titles:
The sovereign is His Majesty, King of Morocco. In break with custom Salma Bennani, upon her marriage to King Mohammed VI, was granted an official title and became known as Her Royal Highness Princess Lallay Salma. The King's sons, grandsons and other male descendants in male line are Prince Moulay ... of Morocco. The sons are styled His Royal Highness, while the others are styled His Highness. The King's daughters, granddaughters and other female descendants in male line are Princess Lalla ... of Morocco. The daughters are styled Her Royal Highness, while the others are styled Her Highness. Other male members of the family are Prince Moulay ..., and other female members of the family are Princess Lalla ... More distant male members of the Aloui family are Moulay ... bin ... al-Alaoui, while distant femal members are Lalla ... bint ... al-Aloui.
Succession:
Morocco is a democratic, social and constitutional monarchy. The King, Amir Al-Muminin (Commander of the Faithful) is the supreme representative of the nation and the symbol of its unity. The Morrocan crown is hereditary and handed over from father to son, in direct male line and by order of primogeniture. A king can however, during his lifetime, designate a successor among his sons apart from the eldest one. If there are no descendants left in direct male line, the right of succession to the throne will be invested to the closest male in the collateral consanguinity. The king is considered a minor until he turns sixteen. Until the king's sixteenth birthday a Regency Council shal assume the powers, and will serve as an adisory board until the king turns twenty. The Regency Council shall be presided over by the First President of the Supreme Court. It shall further include the President of the House of Representatives, the President of the House of Counsellors, the Chairman of the Rabat and Salé Ulama Council (of scholars), and ten dignitaries appointed with the King's own accord.
Postal address:
Palais Royal
Rabat
Morocco
Residences:
The official residence of the king is the Palais Royal (Dar al Makhzen) at Rabat. His private residence however is situated at Dar Essalam, outside Rabat. Some information: Dar al Makhzen-palais royal.
History:
Until the 8th century modern Morocco was an area with several states and kingdoms. At the end of the 8th century Idris I ibn Abdullah conquered large parts of northern Morocco. His new kingdom represented the second autonomous Islamic state in Morocco. Under Mohammed, early 9th century, the kingdom was devided amongst eight brothers, which weakened the Idrisid dynasty. The realm was united in the early 10th century. They however soon lost their status to the Fatimid dynasty, who ruled for almost two centuries. They were succeeded by the Almoravid dynasty, the Almohade dynasty, the Marinid dynasty and the Wattasid dynasty. They were Berber dynasties who ruled most of Northwest Africa, as well as parts of Islamic Iberia. Finally the Saadi dynasty took power. Until 1554 they only reigned in Southern Morocco. Their rule ended in 1659.In 1666 the Alaouite dynasty gained control. Morocco remained an independent state for many centuries. On March 30th, 1912 Morocco became a protectorate of France. Spain assumed protecting power over the northern and southern Saharan zones later that year. Alaouite Sultan Mohammed V was exiled in 1953 and replaced by his relative Mohammed Ben Aarafa, who was by many not accepted. Mohammed V was allowed to return in 1955. Finally Morocco became independent again in 1956. Mohammed V became Sultan of Morocco, and since 1957 called himself king. He was succeeded in 1961 by his son Hassan II.
The Rulers of Morocco