Mohammed ash-Sheikh, who wanted to conquer Algeria, occupied the city but failed to seize the Mechouar Palace, which was defended by a garrison of 500 men under the command of Caïd Saffa.

[6][7] The Moroccans seized Tlemcen on June 9, 1550,[8] but failed at Mostaganem and were then defeated by the Banu Amir tribe, allies of the Spaniards in Oran.

This victory allowed him to re-seize the city of Fez on September 13, 1554, and to ascend the throne and establish definitively the Saadian dynasty in Morocco.

On hearing of his arrival, the frightened Moroccans crossed the border again, hotly pursued by the Algerian army which reached them under the walls of Fez.

For the bey of Algiers, the Saadians were not a problem as long as they did not cross the Moulouya river, which served as the border between Algeria and Morocco at the time.

[16] Hassan, son of Hayreddin Barbarossa, who had returned at the head of the Regency of Algiers, defeated the Moroccans and launched an assassin, a certain Salah Kahia, to take revenge on Sultan Mohamed ash-Sheikh and his attempted alliance with the Spaniards.