Sultan Mohammed V ascended to the throne in 1927 following the death of his father, Yusef bin Hassan, during a period of transition under French protectorate rule. He navigated the shifting political landscape of the twentieth century, evolving from an initial observer of colonial administration into the primary architect of Moroccan independence and the nation's first monarch.
Early Education and Accession
Born in Fez in 1909, the young Sidi Mohammed received his primary education within the qasr al-amami. His studies focused on the Quran and Arabic, supplemented by French language instruction provided by Mohammed Mammeri. Upon his father's death in 1927, the seventeen-year-old was enthroned, marking the start of a reign that would span the transformation of Morocco from a protectorate to a sovereign kingdom.
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Early in his reign, Mohammed V faced intense domestic opposition following his 1930 signature of the Berber Dahir. This legislation altered the legal systems in regions where Berber languages were primary. The move catalyzed the Moroccan Nationalist Movement, drawing widespread criticism from those who viewed the decree as a tool of French colonial interference.
World War II and the Jewish Population
During the Second World War, the Sultan aligned himself with the Allies, notably meeting with Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill at the 1943 Anfa Conference. Regarding the protection of Morocco’s 250,000 Jews, accounts remain debated among historians. While he signed certain Vichy-mandated decrees excluding Jews from specific schools and positions, he is widely credited with resisting efforts to deport his Jewish subjects, consistently asserting his sovereignty over all people residing within his borders.
Exile and National Independence
By 1947, the Sultan’s public support for independence in Tangier led to increasingly hostile relations with French authorities. In 1953, the French administration deposed him, sending him into exile first in Corsica and later in Madagascar, while installing Mohammed Ben Aarafa in his place. The resulting national unrest forced the French to allow his return in 1955. By 1956, he successfully negotiated the end of French and Spanish protectorates, assuming the title of King of Morocco in 1957.
Fast facts
- Born: 1909, Fez
- Died: 1961, Rabat
- Reign as Sultan: 1927-1953, 1955-1957
- Reign as King: 1957-1961
- Language proficiency: Arabic and French
- Academic honor: Honorary doctor of the University of Bordeaux, 1950
- Notable awards: Companion of the Liberation, Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
- Burial site: Mausoleum of Mohammed V
Questions readers ask
What happened to the Sultan in 1953?
He was deposed by French authorities and sent into exile in Corsica and later Madagascar.
Who succeeded Mohammed V?
His eldest son, Hassan II, succeeded him upon his death in 1961.
Achievements
- sultan of Morocco (1927–1953)
- sultan of Morocco (1955–1957)
- King of Morocco (1957–1961)
- Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
- Companion of the Liberation
- Order of Merit
- Grand Collar of the Order of the Nile
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