Kings of Morocco: a simple guide to rulers, dynasties, and modern monarchy

Morocco has had many rulers over more than a thousand years, and their titles changed over time. In earlier centuries, rulers were often called sultans, while in the modern era the country uses the title “king.” The current monarch is King Mohammed VI, who became ruler on 23 July 1999, after the death of his father, father King Hassan II.

---

Quick overview of the Kingdom of Morocco

The Kingdom of Morocco is a constitutional monarchy. This means the king is the head of state, and there is also an elected government with prime ministers leading day-to-day policy. The king has important constitutional and religious roles, and he is also linked to the armed forces as commander-in-chief of the Royal Armed Forces.

You’ll often see the topic organized into primary and secondary keywords in SEO. Here, the primary focus is the historical line of rulers and the modern royal institution, while the secondary focus adds context about titles, dynasties, and the present-day family.

---

From sultans to kings: how titles changed

In Moroccan history, the ruler’s title was not always “king.” A sultan of morocco was a common title for many eras, especially before the modern state structure. In the 20th century, Morocco moved toward the modern royal title, and “king” became the standard designation (commonly used from the late 1950s onward).

So, when people search for kings of morocco, they are usually interested in:

1. today’s kings (modern Morocco), and
2. the longer chain of rulers (including sultans) that shaped the country.

---

The Alawi dynasty in plain words

Morocco’s current royal family belongs to the Alawi dynasty (also spelled Alaouite/Alawi). This dynasty has ruled for centuries and remains the ruling house today.

Within the Alawi period, you may come across historical rulers like Mohammed IV (a 19th-century sultan), alongside later monarchs who ruled closer to the modern era. Mentioning these older rulers helps show continuity: Morocco is not “new,” but a state shaped by long dynastic history.

---

Key modern rulers (quick table)

Below is a practical table for readers who mainly want the modern line (useful for an informational article and for quick scanning). Morocco’s broader list of rulers goes much further back.

Period	Ruler	Notes
1961–1999	Hassan II	Major modern reign; father of Mohammed VI
1999–present	Mohammed VI	Became king on 23 July 1999

If you want to extend this table (for a longer page), you can add earlier modern figures such as Mohammed V, and then link to a separate “full rulers timeline” page for older dynasties.

---

King Mohammed VI: life, family, and reforms

Early life and education

Mohammed VI was born in Rabat and was educated in a structured royal setting. He attended a Quranic school and also studied within the royal educational system, described by official Moroccan sources as schooling linked to the school at the royal palace (often referenced as the Royal College environment).

Many biographies note his formal studies and training from an early age, including his primary and secondary education path.

Some sources also connect his later academic path to France, including reference to the University of Nice and Nice Sophia Antipolis (often written as the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis), which is frequently mentioned in profiles discussing his education.

Accession to the throne (what happened in 1999)

Mohammed VI became king on 23 July 1999, after the death of his father, Hassan II. This date is widely cited and is a key anchor point for any timeline of modern Morocco.

Family, titles, and the royal household

In modern coverage, readers often look for the king’s immediate family and heirs. The heir is the crown prince, Moulay Hassan. You will also see references to Princess Lalla in the royal family context (for example, Princess Lalla Khadija is commonly cited as one of the king’s children).

The king’s former spouse is widely known as Salma Bennani (often styled as Princess Lalla Salma; commonly written as Lalla Salma Bennani). Mentioning her is helpful for readers looking for basic family background, but in an informational article it’s best to keep it factual and brief.

Reform and the Family Code (Moudawana / Mudawana)

One of the most discussed early reforms linked to Mohammed VI is the update of Morocco’s family law, widely known in English as the Moroccan Family Code and commonly spelled Moudawana (also seen as family code mudawana in SEO keyword lists). Official translations and policy summaries describe how the reformed code expanded protections and rights in areas like marriage and divorce.

For your readers, the key takeaway is simple: the reform aimed to modernize family law and improve legal protections, especially for women, through a structured legal framework and court supervision for certain processes.

---

Government today: kings and prime ministers (how it works)

To understand Morocco now, it helps to separate roles:

• The king: head of state, with constitutional responsibilities and major national influence; also connected to national defense through the Royal Armed Forces.
• Prime ministers: lead the government’s day-to-day work, policy planning, and parliamentary agenda (within the constitutional framework).

This split matters because many readers assume a king runs everything alone. In practice, Morocco has formal government institutions, but the monarchy remains central in national life and identity.

---

Quick FAQ

---

Wrap-up

Morocco’s rulers span many centuries, with changing titles and dynasties. For modern readers, the most important milestones are the continuity of the Alawi dynasty, the transition into the modern Kingdom of Morocco, and the 1999 accession of Mohammed VI after King Hassan II.