Winter 1509

The Spanish incursions into the coastline of the Zayyanid and Wattasid dynasties always involved the intricate politics of the Arabized coast, the interior Amazigh, and all manner of other peoples groups such as Sephardic Jews that had come to call North Africa home. The Zayyanids in particular had recently repulsed an invasion in part because of their ability to mobilize relevant Amazigh allies who shared their disdain for the brutal Christian. Those allies often shared feuds amongst themselves, however, and moments of unity were rare.

The Sultans and Emirs of central North Africa began to hear word of more activity deep in the interior of their domains. The recent invasion had been a fairly massive one by the Spaniards and their allies, and there were noticeable losses for the locals who fought against them. There were tribal chieftains who began claiming victory due to their own personal actions, which were inevitably challenged by their rivals and enemies. This was met by a growing sense of distaste for the coastal elites and the urban populations that made up the power base of the more settled Sultans and Emirs of the region, though this was a cycle those who had lived in North Africa had grown accustomed to for centuries now.