Mohammed Ben Aarafa (), or Ben Arafa (1886 – 17 July 1976), was a paternal first cousin once removed of Sultan Mohammed V of Morocco; he was put in Mohammed V's place by the French after they exiled Mohammed V to Madagascar in August 1953. His reign as "Mohammed VI" was not recognized in the Spanish-protected part of Morocco. Protests against Ben Aarafa helped lead to Moroccan independence, which was agreed to between France and Mohammed V, after his abdication in October 1955. Nomenclature In Morocco, the subject of this article is "known simply as 'Mohammed ben Arafa', as if he came from an ordinary family of Fez, where patronymics in 'Ben' are very common, and is no longer acknowledged as heir to the sharifan and royal line." Others, including notable historians like Charles-André Julien, Michel Abitbol and Bernard Lugan have chosen to refer to him as 'Moulay' (prince) 'ben Arafa', rather than the traditional 'Sidi Mohammed ben Arafa', used by Joseph Luccioni and Roger Gruner. He is never referred to as 'Mohammed VI', which instead refers to the current king of Morocco. Birth and family Mohammed ben Arafa was born around 1886 in Fez, which was then the Alaouite capital. He was a member of the Sharifian and Royal Alaouite line through his father Moulay Arafa, who was himself the son of Mohammed IV. Thus he was the nephew of Hassan I and cousin of the latter's sons and successors Abd el-Aziz, Abd el-hafid, and Yusef. Through his mother, Lalla Nufissa, he was linked to the Al-Glaoui tribe, since she was a cousin of Madani El Glaoui who had been vizir of war under Abd el-Aziz and Grand Vizir under Abd el-Hafid after helping him overthrow his brother Abd el-Aziz in 1908. Madani was in turn the brother of Thami El Glaoui who would play a central role in Ben Arafa's accession to the throne in 1953. Ben Arafa married Lalla Hania bint Tahar, a granddaughter of Hassan I of Morocco, who had formerly been married to sultan Abd el-Hafid, but had divorced him after he abdicated and went into exile in 1912. Her sister Lalla Abla bint Tahar was married to Mohammed V (as his second wife). Reign Ben Arafa was placed on the Alouite throne on 21 August 1953 after his cousin Mohammed V was deposed, by the French authorities, which maintained a protectorate in Morocco under