[4] The battle took place on 7 January at Qudyat-al-Mahali, a suburb near Fez and occurred after Salah Reis’ two previous victories against the Saadians, one at Taza and another at the Sebou river.

[11][12][13] For his part, the Wattassid Ali Abu Hassun, who expected Portuguese help to regain his throne, found himself on board a ship captured, on July 5, 1553 in the harbor of Vélez, by Salah Raïs on his return from a naval expedition against Majorca and Menorca.

[3][17] The Sultan of Fez met the troops of the Regency of Algiers near Taza on December 5, 1553, but withdrew from that city to a fortress once he realized the superiority of the Ottoman artillery.

According to historian Ernest Mercier, this first attack was a great success and the Moroccan soldiers were frightened by the detonations and forced to retreat to the heights in the direction of Fez.

[3] After receiving a reinforcement of 600 men, brought from the province of Velez by the sons of Abu Hassun, the beylerbey launched the final assault on the city of Fez during the night of 4 to 5 January 1554 from the locality of Sebou where the Algerian army was stationed.

[6] The troops of Salah Rais, entered victoriously in Fez in the night of January 7 to 8, 1554,[19] and Wattasid Ali Abu Hassun was declared sovereign, as a vassal of the Ottoman sultan.

[22] The population of Fez were happy about the return of the Wattasid sovereign and gave Salah Reis an excellent welcome, however they began rebelling against him when they saw the Turks laying hands on the women and children and looting whatever they wanted.