Mohammed V of Morocco



Mohammed V (10 August 1909 – 26 February 1961) (محمد الخامس) was Sultan of Morocco from 1927–53, exiled from 1953–55, where he was again recognized as Sultan upon his return, and King from 1957 to 1961. His full name was Sidi Mohammed ben Yusef, or Son of (Sultan) Yusef, upon whose death he succeeded to the throne. He was a member of the Alaouite Dynasty.

On 20 August 1953, the French who were occupying Morocco at the time forced Mohammed V and his family into exile on Corsica. His uncle, Mohammed Ben Aarafa, was placed on the throne. Mohammed V and his family were then transferred to Madagascar in January 1954. Mohammed V returned from exile on 16 November 1955, and was again recognized as Sultan after active opposition to the French protectorate. In February 1956 he successfully negotiated with France for the independence of Morocco, and in 1957 took the title of King.

Death
He died on 26 February 1961 following complications of a surgery he received. U.S. Ambassador Charles W. Yost saw the King hours before his death and was among those who suspected that the King's son, Hassan II, had a hand in his father's sudden death.

Legacy
The Mohammed V International Airport and Stade Mohamed V of Casablanca are named after him, as well as numerous universities and various public spaces across Morocco. There is an Avenue Mohammed V in nearly every Moroccan city and a major one in Tunis, Tunisia.

His first wife was Lalla ? bint Mamoun. She was the mother of his first daughter Lalla Fatima Zohra.

His second wife was Lalla Abla bint Tahar (لالا عبلة بنت طهار) (born 5 September 1909 – died 1 March 1992). She was the daughter of Tahar bin Hassan. She married Mohammed V in 1929 and died in Rabat on 1 March 1992. She gave birth to five children: the future King Hassan II, Lalla Aicha (born 1930), Lalla Malika, Moulay Abdellah and Lalla Nuzha.

His third wife was Lalla Bahia, mother of his last daughter Lalla Amina.

In December 2007, The Forward reported on a secret diplomatic initiative by the Moroccan government to have Mohammed V admitted to the Righteous Among the Nations.

Honours

 * Order of Blood of Tunisia
 * Grand Cross of the Legion d'Honneur of France-1927
 * Companion of the Order of the Liberation of France-1945
 * Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit of the United States of America-1945
 * Grand Collar of the Order of the Yoke and Arrows of Francoist Spain-1956
 * Grand Collar of the Order of Idris I of the Kingdom of Libya-1956
 * Collar of the Order of the Hashemites of the Kingdom of Iraq-1956
 * Grand Cordon of the Order of Oumayyad of Syria-1960
 * Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of Lebanon, special class-1960
 * Collar of the Order of the Nile of the Republic of Egypt-1960
 * Collar of the Order of Hussein ibn Ali of Jordan-1960
 * Grand Cordon of the King Abdul Aziz Decoration of Saudi Arabia-1960