[1][2][3][4] In 1542 his father Abu Abdallah Muhammad V al-Hasan set sail for Italy, intending to gather weapons and munitions to strengthen his authority.

Francisco de Tovar, governor of the fortress of La Goulette became involved in intrigues to place on the throne a Hafsid candidate who would ensure the best interests of Spain.

While Ahmad was absent from Tunis he arranged for the former caliph’s brother Abdelmalik to enter the kasbah in disguise and have himself proclaimed sultan.

Just thirty six days later he died of a mysterious fever, but not before he had paid in full the tribute due to Spain under its treaty with Tunis, as well as 6,000 ducats for the upkeep of the Spanish garrison in La Goulette.

[6][7]: 52 [8] Having ousted Spain’s puppet rulers, Ahmad sought to open diplomatic initiatives with the Ottomans, communicating with Dragut and sending an embassy to Istanbul.

I think that we could get from them [i.e. the inhabitants of Tunis] the amount necessary for the expenses of the two forts.”[9] In 1550 the Spanish attacked Mahdia, intending to restore Ahmad’s father Moulay Hasan to power.

In August 1566 Ahmad explained to Don Sancho de Leiva the dilemma in which he found himself, "seeing himself in such peril that he dared neither break with the Turks nor detach from them, because if at the moment he did so, the Spaniards, who are his protectors, put an end to the truce, he would very quickly find himself lost, his forces unable to defend himself against so many powers.”[9] While the Spanish controlled La Goulette and, briefly, Mahdia, the Ottomans were strengthening their position in the south and centre of Tunisia.

[9][10][11] In 1569 the pasha of Algiers Uluç Ali, supported by the Ottoman sultan Selim II, decided to seize Tunis.

Faced with this threat, Ahmad approached the Spanish governor of La Goulette, Don Alonso Pimentel for military assistance.

Enrique lived in Naples on a monthly stipend of 120 escudos that, on his death, passed to his widow Luisa de Austria.