[2] In 1532, Ahmad ibn Muhammad sent a letter to Francis I of France through trader Hémon de Molon, encouraging the French king to develop trade relations.
[3] In 1533, Francis I of France sent as ambassador to Ahmad ibn Muhammad, in the person of colonel Pierre de Piton.
[4] The embassy was made up of five gentlemen and the pseudo-merchant Aymond de Molon were part of the expedition: the embassy carried watches, mirrors, combs and other "merceryes" with some falconry items; everything was to be offered to Ahmed ibn Muhammad, the King of Fez, and to his vizier and brother-in-law Moulay Ibrahim ben Ali ibn Rashid al-Alami.
[7] His foreign policyat that time was designed to counter the fast-growing powers of Spain and Portugal who held fortress enclaves on Moroccan soil.
[8] His successor, Ali Abu Hassun, regent for Ahmad's young son Nasir al-Qasiri, decided to pledge allegiance to the Ottomans in order to obtain their support.