During the reign of Zidan, after the death of Sultan Ahmed al-Mansur in 1603, Morocco fell into a state of anarchy with the latter's sons fighting for the throne.
[4] Morocco was in a state of civil war with the uprising of warlords such as Ahmed ibn Abi Mahalli in the South and Sidi al-Ayachi in the North taking territories from Zidan.
[5] These uprisings were triggered by Mohammed esh Sheikh el Mamun conceding Larache to the Spanish in 1610, but they also seized the opportunity to capture al-Ma'mura.
During the revolt of Ahmed ibn Abi Mahalli in 1612, Muley Zidan commissioned a French privateer, Jehan Philippe de Castelane, to move his household goods from Safi to Santa Cruz do Cabo, Agadir, for a sum of 3,000 escudos after suffering a defeat at Marrakesh.
After having waited for six days without being paid, Castelane sailed north for Marseille, with the cargo still aboard, hoping to sell the goods to recoup his losses.
[13] Some 4 ships from the fleet of Spanish Admiral Luis Fajardo intercepted the vessel near Mehdya and took it to Lisbon (then part of Spain) and convicted the crew of piracy.
After Cadiz, the collection would continue on its journey, by order of Philip III to be taken to the home of council member Juan de Idiáquez in Madrid.