Ali Abu Hassun

In 1545, he succeeded Sultan Ahmad, who had been taken prisoner by his southern rivals the Saadians.^[1] Ali Abu Hassun became regent for Ahmad's young son Nasir al-Qasiri.^[1] Upon his accession, he pledged allegiance to the Ottoman Empire to obtain its support.^[1]

Ahmad came back after two years, and was able to rule from 1547 until 1549 when Fez and then Tlemcen were conquered by his southern Saadian rivals under Mohammed ash-Sheikh.^[2] Sultan Ahmad died that year, and Ali Abu Hassun again became regent, but since his country was occupied by the Saadians, he was offered asylum in Ottoman Algiers.^[1]

Following the reconquest of the Kingdom of Tlemcen over the Saadians in 1549, Ali Abu Hassun was able with the help of the Ottomans under Salah Rais to reconquer Fez in 1554,^[2] and was put in place as Sultan of Fez, supported by janissaries.^[2] Ali Abu Hassun paid off the Turkish troops and gave them the base of Peñon de Velez, which the Moroccans had reconquered in 1522.^[2]

The reconquest of Fes was short-lived however. Ali Abu Hassun was vanquished and killed by the Saadians at the Battle of Tadla in September 1554.^[2] Mohammed ash-Sheik was able to recapture the city of Fez and became the undisputed ruler of Morocco, establishing the Saadian dynasty as the sole ruler of the country.^[2] He then started negotiations with Spain to oust the Ottomans.^[3]